The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-10-12
STREET IMPROVEMENT.
Board of Trade Discusses it in Connec-
ton With AntO-MObile Service.

Board of Trade Discusses it in C0nnec-
ton With Auto-MObile Service.
At the board of trade Monday
DIR. Andrews of the special committee
to inquire of the Omaha and G. & n.
W. railroads if something could not
be done in regard to the congestion of
train traffic at this point and secure if
possible a union depot for the various
roads, read letter from w. A. Scott
of the Omaha, to the effect that the
change in trains would be made. as has
since been the case, so that the diff
Guilty would be done away with. Mr..
Scott thought the present depot was
sufficient for present needs. Also that
it being so late that no further changes
would be made this fall but that
changes as to yard room in the spring
would probably be entered upon.
DR.. Andrews thought that com
mittee ought to be appointed
in conjunction with a similar COM
mittee from the city council to work
for union depot for all of the roads to
run into. The report made by DIR.
Andrews was accepted and the COM
mittee continued, and DR.. Andrews
moved that Mayor Currier be invited
to appoint committee from the coun-
Gil to cooperate with the board of
trade committee.
Mayor Currier stated that he was
not informed as to just what the con-
dition of the survey of the Duluth, st.
Cloud and Mankato road was in. AS
to Mankato's share of the expense $110
had been collected and had paid 500
to the head engineer of the survey.
He thought total of about 1926 had
been subscribed
Reverting to the matter of a union
depot for all of the roads, G. N. An
drews wanted to know what induce
ments the city had to hold out to the
roads in the way of river frontage, for
trackage purposes.
Jno. N. Hall replied that there was
a little ground on river side of the
Omaha, and also narrow strip of land
between the Omaha and Milwaukee
tracks
M. G. Willard thought that some
of the river could be filed in without
harm.
DR. Andrews called up the report on
rapid transit which was made by a
special committee of which he was
C hartman and the same was discussed
Mr.. Haynes asked if the doctor knew
whether company could be organized
for the purchase of these automobiles
which the committee recommended.
DR.. Andrews replied there would
be no difficulty in forming such com
pany..if the streets we're placed in pro-
per condition. There is no city of the
importance of Mankato, the doctor
said, that had as poor streets as has
Mankato, and he thought the time had
come when movement ought to be
made toward getting better streets
This was followed by a spirited dis
cussion in which most of the members
present took part. Several members
took the ground that the city was too
poor to go ahead and pave our streets.
The mayor said that he did not see
how the city authorities could do any
hing under present conditions. If
anyone would tell how the money
could be secured the city would go
ahead and do the work.
DR.. Andrews said that if the city
would go ahead and pave Second street
from Jackson to Liberty or Byron
streets it would be one of the best
moves it ever made, and the improve
ment be such that the fever for it
would spread all over the city. The
property along this portion of the
street was abundantly able to stand the
expense.
Mayor Currier said he believed a
m istake had been made in defeating
, the proposed new charter, and that
, steps ought to be taken to secure pro-
vision in the city charter by which
; there would be authority to perma-
! nently improve our streets.
DIR. Andrews said that the greater
! portion of the floating debt had beeu
, saddled upon the city was because OF
the heavy expenses on the streets and
that it would either be floating debt
or heavy taxes until improvements Of
permanent nature take place.
The concensus of opinion was that
the city charter ought to be changed SO
that street improvements of perma-
nent nature could be made, and the
payment therefore made to extend over
period of three or five years so that
it would not be burdensome for the
taxpayer and that the greater portion
of opposition to such improvements
would then disappear.