The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-01-24
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tiOn at least.
JIG. Fowler: l am in favor of an
electric railway for the city of Man
kato, and am of the opinion that it
would be of incalculable value to the
city at large. AS to the extra cost
per annum per taxpayer, it is a Ques-
tiOn hard to answer, as the tax would
increase as the number of lights in
creased, although this extra tax
would be more than made up by the
increased value of property by reason
of the building of the roadway. The
suburbs of the city would be benefit
ted wonderfully. 1t would not only
be great convenience to the people,
but / am of the opinion it would
double the value of all suburban prop
erty, especially on the line of the rail
way. If there is no other way by
which we can have an electric railway
[ am in favor of it being built in the
way as outlined in the circular. But
the conditions you speak of do not
make it certainty that the road
would be built; the company should
not only agree to forfeit the bond if
the railway is not built, but also the
franchise for electric lighting at the
end of three years.
@. H. Austin: | am not in sympa-
thy with the idea of the city owning
and operating an electric plant for
any purpose. l should be very glad to
see a street electric railway such as
you mention successfully operated in
our city, and there is no reason why it
cannot be if properly extended and
managed. With such system OF
street transportation, real estate
would, in my opinion, be largely en-
HANGED, business would improve, and
our neighbors would respect us for our
enterprise: Mankato would come to
the front and boom.
G.. M. Palmer: 1 am unable
, to answer your three questions
definitely, but presuming you wish to
get at the opinion of citizens gener-
ally, beg to say that 1 am decidedly
opposed to any plan by which bonus
is to be given by the city for an cleo
trio car line. In my judgment, the
city is in no condition to offer bonus
and it seems to me care should be taken
to keep our expenses down to the
lowest possible notch, consistent with
safety and good government. An
electric car line will be very eXpen-
sive thing to maintain for some years
to come and the city is not in cOndi-
tion that it can afford to spend any
money for such purpose.
Chas. A. Chapman: I am not in
favor of having street car service with
a bonus. A car line that cannot eX-
iSt without bonus will not pay with
one. The people will not patronize it
after the new is worn off, and empty
stress cars are dicredit to a city.
With regard to the three numbered
questions, the answers to the 1st and
3rd must be merely guess-weork. The
End can be figured by any one who
knows the number of tax payers.
A. M. Rutan: 1 am glad to give
you an expression of my opinion upon
the matters you inquire about, but
give it as the opiniyn of one individu-
al voter and no more. Considering
the present state of the city's finances
l seriously doubt the advisability of
the city giving any bonus for the pur-
pose OF obtaining an electric street
railway. Even if the finance matter
did not enter into the question, 1
think l should incline to the view
that it is unwise for the city at large
to bonus such an enterprise and make
a direct tax upon all the tax payers
of the municipality. say this
cautiously, because l do want to see
something done for the good of Man
katO: l want to be public spirited
and I want to help do something to
make us good, substantial growth.
[ simply don't think that the most
advisable way to encourage this en-
terprise or similar enterprises. /
think it would be better if we could
induce some good company to take
hold of the matter and either subsi-
die them by grant of land about the
outskirts of the city, or if we could
induce some good company to put in
street railway line and have them
also buy and hold property in any
place in the city or along it's lines
and expect to make good the losses
that they may have for time in op-
Grating railway, from the certain
increase OF their property. A good
electric railway running into the sub
urbs of the city would, in my opinion,
enhance the value of property in the
suburbs but at the same time have a
tendency for the present and for some
time to come. to stitfie the advance
ment in value OF property in the GEN.
ter of the city.
D. w. Selleck: l should think that
five mile electric street railway
would benefit the city of Mankato for
the first year at least 10 per cent. The
suburbs of the city would be benefited
by an electric street railway at least
Is per cent the first year that the five
miles was in use. The extra cost of
lights coupled with the electric street
railway would not cost the taxpayers
extra one-half of one mill on the dol
lar. On the tirsGthought I do not see
who could object to an electric rail-
way at the small cost to each taxpayer.
Jas. S. Cooper: have no knowledge
as to cost of same whatever, but
strongly favor an electric street rail-
way for Mankato, knowing it will
greatly benefit the city and build up
the suburbs. 1t strikes me that three
years is too long a limit, and / believe
that if we are going to have road,
the sooner the better Concerning the
electric lights, am not we'll enough
posted to give an opinion of any value.
Dan Coughlan: 1 am not in favor
of your plan to light our city or for
street railway; it will cost too much.