The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-08-23

probably enough men VINO would In
vest. He favored securing the services
of Mr.. Burch, and moved that the
chair appoint committee of five with
himself at the head to arrange to Sc
cure Mr.. Burch or some other COM
petent engineer.
Mr.. Staede thought that it would be
more practical to have the committee
spend few days in seeing how many
people would subscribe $500 and
upwards in cash and real estate for
stock in company. - ,r.,-----~ss-----
Mr. Funk opposed both suggestions,
and moved that the board of trade
committee be authorized to raise funds
to get competent information ON the
probable cost of street Car line and
whether it would pay. ~---,,,,S... So
Mr.. Willard did not see any use of
putting money into the enterprise I'M
less it was going to be backed up.
Geo. S. Robbins had said that he
would put 81, 600 into company if
everything was all right, as friend
in the east who had been here had told
him not to miss chance to put money
into street railway line in this city.
Mr.. Hixon suggested that a subscrip
tion list be taken up and down the
street, and that the business men be
asked to state what stock they would
take, and also asked to contribute to-
ward the preliminary expenses.
Mr.. Hixon favored securing the
plans of the old company, made by
Mr.. Cole, and which he considered all
right. Mr.. Willard took the same
view.
Mr.. Andrews and others wanted Mr..
Coles report supplemented by one
from Mr.. Burch.
Mayor Petersen said that he had no
doubt but that street Car line would
pay if it were run into the country
districts. The old company intended
to run a line to Eagle Lake, Cream
and Alma City, and one to the lakes.
A line between Mankato and st.
Peter ought to pay, and local line
would pay. The old company invested
So, 600 and when it saw that its efforts
were failure it sold out.
Mr.. Funk motion was carried.
Mr. Andrews said that Mr.. Burch
had stated that the power house
would be the largest part of the cost,
from $35, 600 to $50, 600.
Definite Information Needed.
Mr.. Young asked what it would cost
to keep the line open to st. Clair in
the winter. Nine-te nths of the people
who are asked to subscribe will want
to know what the line will cost, and
where it will run, and what it will
cost to operate and maintain. He had
always been doubtful whether a line
would pay, although it might in con-
junction with lighting contract. He
would want to see an experts figures
He would also want to know about
traffic arrangements with railroads
Mr. Andrews said that the Mason City
road has traffic arrangements.
Mr.. Young said that if the people
could be convinced that the line would
pay, the $50, 600 could be secured in
"a hours. He would subscribe if the
matter looked favorable.
DR.. Webster said that he did not
think that the committee is in posi-
tion to cow nee people that line
would pay. He favored getting the
matter down to business proposition.
He would subscribe toward doing this.
He had not hitherto thought that
line would pay.
Mayor Petersen favored constructing
q line in the city first and later going
out into the country.
Mr.. Young brought up the lighting
feature and the provision of the new
charter permitting the city to contract
for street lights with a street Car COM
pany.
Mr.. Hixon said that the lighting
contracts which the old company Sc
cured would be good at any time.
Mr.. Andrews said that the idea has
been thrown out that the present
lighting company might build the line
in order to prevent new company
from getting the street lighting con-
tract. This was not being considered
now, but might work itself out in
time. The committee had PROPOSE
tion from a man who talked of coming
and building line to st. Paul, and
who said that a cent mile rate would
be charged, which would take the rail
road passenger business and greatly in
crease it. However, the committee had
been warned by parties from else
where to avoid such a proposition as
everybody would go to the twin cities
to buy goods and local trade would be
killed. Saltwater and other places
are practically dead for this cause.
What is wanted is line to connect
with smaller towns to come here.
A subscription list was passed around
and 800 was raised. The committee
will endeavor to raise another 500.
The money subscribed will apply on
stock If company should be organized
later
An adjournment was taken subject
to the call of the committee.