The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-06-09
800 VISITORS.
Mankato Turned Over to Twin
City Guests.
President Stickney and Other Officials
and Numerous Business Men Arrived
Monday Afternoon.

Mankato entertained three hundred
guests Saturday AFTER noon, and it gave
her citizens much pleasure to do so.
The weather, which was as bad as it
could be Friday, was threatening all
the forenoon, but the sky cleared OH
early in the afternoon and the sun and
wind began the drying process and put
Front street at least in prime condition.
When the rain was coming down this
morning the prospects were gloomy in
the extreme, but the sun decided to
smile on the city and its social function
this afternoon and proved the saying
that "alPs we'll that ends well
The big excursion given by President
Stickney to the members OF the Job
beers Unions of st. Paul and Minneopo.
lis got off on time that morning. The
threatening weather kept many from
going who had sent their acceptances,
but when the train finally pulled out
there were 300 people on board. 1t was
no ordinary excursion party that was
bourn by special train down the Mis-
sissippi Valley, past the beautiful
lakes and green fields and emerald
forests of Southern MINI esota tosMan-
kato. The party consisted of dozen
high officials of one of tie greatest and
most progressive railroad systems in the
west, and three hundred leading bust
ness men Of two great cities.
The first stop was made at Mortified,
where the party was ushered about the
pretty and historic little city and
shown where the Youngers and the
James committed the bloody deed OF
more than twenty years ago. Then
the train was taken again and did not
stop until Faribault was reached.
There the enterprising citizens enter
tanned the party with ride around the
city and dinner The desire of the
people to have the depot more centrally
located in the city was made manifest.
The train pulled out of Faribault
ha an hour late. and it was
4:25 o'clock when it drew uI
at the little depot near the stone
quarries that have made Mankato
famous, The party were delighted
with their trip across country, with
the splendid, thriving towns and cities
along the new property of the Chicago
Great Western railroad, with the rich
and productive country through which
the road passes, and with the magnif
cent scenery all along the line. 1t was
splendid panorama that met Their
eyes all the way-a succession of lakes
and rivers, prairie and woodland, hills
and valleys.
The officials who came in on the ex.
cursion were President A. B Stickney,
General Freight Agent S. O. Brooks,
General Passenger and Traffic Agent
F H. Lord, Special Agent of the Pas
senger Department j. P. Elmer, Divis-
ion Freight Agent L. Oppenheim, D G.
Stonr, S. E. Sohr, G. R. Berry, G. S.
Thomas, P. K. Gilfllan, R. Heard and
L. c. Rains, whose official positions we
did not learn.
Lined up at the depot when the train
arrived were hundred OF more car
riages, waiting to give the visitors a
ride around the city. These were quickly
filled and were soon traversing the va
rious streets. The back streets were
muddy but the foliage of the trees and
the lawns never looked greener or more
attractive. The reception committee
gave the city's guests warm welcome
and pointed out various objects of in
terest as they were passed.
After the drive, refreshments awaited
the strangers at The Saulpaugh, where
Landlord Snyder had prepared buffet
lunch of ample proportions and pleas
ing variety.
The oficiBls of the Chicago Great
Western, whom our people take great
pleasure in welcoming, cannot fail to
have noted the advantage of placing
the depot in more central locatit. n,
where it can be easily reached by pat
rOnS.