The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-05-24
AMBOY..
A Growing Town in Southern
Part of County.
Splendid Market for the Produce of the
Finest Farms of the North.
west.

Few people in Mankato and other
parts of Blue Earth county-unless
called there on business or otherwise
have a conception of the growth and
activity of Amboy. When the pro-
ductiveness of the farms tributary or
adjacent to this, the most southern
town in the county, is taken into &C
count one can readily determine the
cause for this prosperous condition on
all sides apparent within its borders.
Amboy has about one thousand souls !;
a water system, the envy of larger
towns a gasoline plant which lights
the city and furnishes fuel and light
for residents at a nominal cost; a
seven thousand dollar school house
presided over by four excellent teachers
with E. W. Chamberlin as principal !;
an 100-barrel capacity flour mill work
ing overtime" to keep up with or
ders; a bank-A. n. Ware, president
with deposits upwards of 500, 900
and numbering among its depositors
hundreds of farmers who have amassed
from the productive soil sufficient
means to provide for old age and a
generous surplus for their children
postoffice equipped with Mclean Key
less lock boxes, polished oak furnish
ings and located in building costing
with fixtures nearly "a, 600 and in
charge of that veteran resident and
Jolly good fellow, 'Dave" Cross, ably
assisted by his estimable wife; three
creameries which produce weekly
about 5000 pounds of butter for ship
ment, in addition to that consumed by
the local trade and creamery patrons !;
an indebtedness of only "a, 800 made
necessary by the induction of the gaso-
line lighting plant a band creditable
to a town more pretentious; police
oficer-Chas Tackles-dressed in uni
formity'' and who in addition to his
duties as peace guardian has charge of
the city lighting plant; a newspaper
edited by that universally we'll liked
gentleman, Hon. J. E. Brown; a gen.
erous supply of largely stocked and
clearly stores doing lucrative bust
ness elevators lumber yards; four
churches with large memberships !;
many secret societies, and numerous
fine residences.
Amboy has 1900 barrel water
tank for fire protection and their
equippage includes a gasoline engine
capable of throwing stream of water
above any building on the business
street. Water mains are laid and sew
eral hydrants have been placed on
Main street. Amboy furnishes an
excellent shipping point for the butter
made at the Willow Creek, Sterling
and local creameries. Today the but
termakers of the county are holding
convention in Amboy.
The increase of business at any post
Office is always considered an incentive
to it's growth and this growth is
evinced by the fact that recently this
Office has been changed from fourth to
third class and the postmaster salary
increased to 81, 500 yearly. Two rural
mail delivery routes have been estab-
lished during the past year and in
clude the territory east to Sterling
Center, west to Pleasant Mound and
south to the Martin and Faribault
county lines. The distance covered on
the east route u.s. 81 miles. and about
80 miles on the west. The carriers on
both these routes are obliging and eff
cient and Uncle Sam can rest assured
that good service is being rendered his
patrons. These routes are greatly
appreciated by the farmers, as it
brings a postofice to their very doors.
The carriers sell stamps, envelopes,
and paper, issue money and postal or
ders and otherwise aid the ruralist,
while your Uncle Sam ''pays nomi-
nal freight. %
Postmaster. Gross. has returned from
a two weeks visit at the Colfax,
Iowa, springs, where he took treat
ment for rheumatism. He returned
much improved, fact pleasing to his
many friends.
Commissioners Paddock. Killmer,
Epson ands Engineer Brooks were in
Amboy Tuesday to examine the new
bridge just completed over the Blue
Earth river..west of town. The bridge
is now open..for travel and at the
suggestion..of.. the residents of Amboy
will, be named pleasant View"
bridge. Heretofore it has been neces-
sary to either ford the river where the
bridge now is or go around, making an
extra drive of 21s miles. The commits
sioners will accept the bridge at their
nextssmeeting.
ATcommittee from the, Clear Lake,
South Dakota, council were in Amboy
Wednesday to look over the new gaso-
line plant.
L. Whitney of Otter Tail county has
purchased the general store of ]. E.
Bake and will conduct it in the
future.
E. D. Wilmot, J. W. Anderson and
Messrs Brill and Fiero of Mankato
were in Amboy Wednesday.
The grain never looked more en-
couraging than now. Wheat, oats,
barley, rye and clover is well advanced
and fax and corn is up sufficiently high