The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-01-24
THE MATTER OF AN ELECTRIC
ROAD

Uno LAX payers VI UIle CIUy III oh0 Pun
pose of securing their opinion regard
ing the getting of an electric street
railway on the condition that five
miles be built and in operation within
three years from July 4th next, and
that the company so building be Civ
en- the exclusive right to light the
city for ten years, the number of lights
to be required being 70. The extra
price to be paid for those lights to be
from $40 to SIS more than would be
the case if not coupled with a street
railway. To get square at the matter
he put the following questions:
list. How much will a five mile electric street
railway, well equipped and operated, benefit
the city of Mankato at large9
I'd, About what will be the extra cost per
annum per tax payer for the additional cost
of lighting the city?
Sd. To what extent will the suburbs of the
city be benefited by such railway, not only as
convenience to the people, but in the way OF adj
vancing the price of property?
The purpose Of these circulars is to
secure the sentiment of the tax pay
ers as to their willingness to pay
trife more for the city lights for the
purpose of having street railway.
The entire question, of course, after
the expression of willingness as to
whether this extra tax shall be paid,
hinges upon the total amount which
shall be paid.
DR.. Andrews places the maximum
at SIS per light, and the number of
lights at 70. This would make an ex-
ira 81, $50 for lights per year. 1t is
probable, however, that this number
of lights would soon, within two years
at least, be increased to 100, especial
ly would this be so with a street rail
way, as that would increase the de-
mand for lights in the outlying dis
tricts, which would bring the extra
cost, on the doctors estimate up to
81, 500 per anDum.
1t is maintained by some, however,
as has already been published in the
FREE PRESS that it will take at least
So, 900 extra on lights in order to Sc
cure the street railway. 1t is very
doubtful that the benefits to be de-
rived from.a street railway, though
many, would warrant such an in
creased tax, nor do we believe that
the tax payers would consent to pay it.
In our judgment whatever extra is
paid for lights in return for benefits
to be derived from a street railway,
should be adjusted upon sliding
scale. Say $1,000 per year for the
next five years, and $1,000 per year for
the five years following. This would
give total of $1,000, and if it will
not warrant the building of railway,
with the resources and outlook wehave
for large city then it is hardly an in
vestment that should be undertaken.
If line can be secured for an extra
cost on our city lights of $4,000 per
year for the next five years, and 81, 900
per year for the five years following,
we believe it would be one of the best
Investments the city ever made, for
returning to the first question of DR..
Andrews, it would confer benefits up
on the city in scores of ways. 1t
would further benefit the city by
helping to. build up the suburbs, and
give us more and cheaper homes with
in easy reach. A city should ever
strive to be a city of homes. In the
heart of the city real estate is now
reaching point where the man of
small means can not get home, and
to 60 to the outskirts of the city,
places him, because of our peculiar
location, at a considerable distance
from the business part of town.
Moderate prices for homes will dc
much to encourage manufacturing
interests, upon which the growth OF
the city largely depends.
AS to the extra cost of lighting the
city to the individual taxpayer, that
would be small. Our present assessed
valuation is a little over $3,00O,000
Taking S3,O00,000 as a basis, an extra
$1,000 for lighting would cost the in
dividual taxpayer about 81 cents or
500. Put the extra cost at $1,000 ane
he will pay 6S cents per year per 800
valuation for the next five years. The
great bulk Of the taxes are DOUBTLESS
paid.o valuations ranging from 800,
to $500, which would make the extr;
tax of the average taxpayer rang
from 135 to 33B cents per year-a small
, amount compared with the benefit
, which would accrue to the city. B.
the time the first five years ha
/ elapsed, the city's valuation woul,
, have greatly increased and the amour
, to each individual taxpayer would b
very small. If street railway can b
obtained upon these terms the FREE
PRESS is OF the opinion that the Cit
! would make mistake in not takin