The Mankato free press., 1900-05-04
A FINE SHOWING.
Congressman McCleary Talks OF
Second District.
II Excels in the Number of PostOffices
and in Railroad Building
Rural Delivery.

congressman MCCl6ary roIuTuou
Wednesday from Window, where he
went to look after some land which he
owns near there. He reports every
thing looking prosperous in that sec
tion.
There has been talk recently of plac-
ing Mr.. McCleary at the head of the
Blue Earth county delegation to the
state convention, which meets in ST..
Paul week after next, and when asked
by Free Press reporter whether he
would accept the trust if it was tender
ed him, he replied that he would do 80
He feels that he would not neglect any
duty that his fellow workers in the
party may see fit to place upon him
and if placed upon the delegation he
will try and make it point to be
present at the state convention, al
though his duties at Washington at
that time will be many and arduous, as
congress is making an endeayor to ad-
journ early in June.
Representative McCleary is conf
dent of Republican success again next
fall. The Democratic party has placed
free silver in the back ground this year
and is working the anti-expansion cry
for what little there is in it. The coun-
try as whole seems to be strongly in
favor of expansion. In regard to his
own prospects of a denomination, he
has no fear, as his advices from the
district are of very favorable nature
He expects to remain in the city day
or two longer and then return to Wash.
ington.
Speaking of the numerous applica
tions for rural free delivery service in
the Second district, Mr.. McCleary in
formed the reporter that he hopes to be
able to have all of the applications
granted. This service has now become
more than an experiment and is here to
stay. Mr.. McCleary expects to haye
more routes established in his district
than will be started in any other dis
trict in the United States. and he ex-
poets to see them in operation during
the coming summer. He states that
the Second district is peculiarly adapted
for the successful operation of the ser
vice, as there are no mountains, the
country is we'll settled with an intelli
gent population, who read and write
much and take many papers. The
roads are also good.
Continuing. Mr.. McCleary said: 81
am aiming to make this the banner
district in the county in the matter oi
rural free delivery as we'll as in other
respects. 1t is first in the number OF
postoffices, first in the amount of rail.
road building last year, and hope il
will be first in the number of its rural
free delivery routes. AS member OF
the committee on appropriations, and
having secured the appointment OF
Hon. Gilbert Guttersen as special
agent. am in position to bring this
about. By the way, there is not one OF
the twenty special agents in the coun
tyy who stands better in the postoffice
department than Mr.. Guttersen. He is
the right man for the place,
do you realize how much railroad
building has been done in the Second
district the past year2 More miles
were constructed in this district than
in any other district in the United
States. Iowa ranked first among the
states in railroad building in 1899, and
Minnesota second. More than three.
fourths of all the new road built in
Minnesota was constructed in the Sec
ond district. This work was divided
among eight lines and amounted to
over 800 miles as against something
over 500 miles for Iowa, which was the
hon of