The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-01-18
MANKATt} FREE PRESS

practicable.
RED RIVER DRAINAGE.
Great benefits have been derived from
the state drainage bitches In the Red Rive
valley; Thousands of acres Of vaiuah''
iand pelonging to the settlers have been
value, as have also 10000 acres owned
the state, and much waste land has been
comes two weeks esst earIfer Which results IN
From the re report orf' ION. E. G. Valentine,
seen that the counties benefited by this
drainage system q completing a series
of cross bitches connecting with the main
extending the advantages of this admirable
plani Polk county alone reports an ex-
penditure Of S10o.0oo;00 for this purpose.
small appropriation Will be requested
TO Keep the state bitches in repair and 1t
should be granted.
The Legislature should carefully consider
ally, extended so that similar benefits
might be enjoyed In other sections of tbc
valley, where they are so much In need
OF drainage.
SOLDIERS HOME.
The Soldiers Home is a monument of
our states generosity to the man who
saved the nation. 1t is indeed a home
and a11 happy one for many a poor, sick,
OF Of, valor have so many comforts provided.
All honor to them. All honor to the state
that provides so literally for their, wants.
Minnesota was not unmindfNl of her sol
dlers OF the Spanish-American war and the
last Legislature by law, admitted them to
the b home; This was proper, for these men
strated that they were worthy. sons Of
worthy sires. One thing more is needed
there is no place for burial: 1 would rec
ommend the purchase of lot in the Gem
etery for their especial use, and would
further recommend that this legislature
Congress.
ment of $4,000 each year by the gen
eral government for the maintenance of
the home. This is done in the case of the
Civil War veterans and, in my judgment,
like treatment should be accorded the
boys of 49,
ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION.
One of the most important events of
PRESIDENT Jefferson's administration was
the acquisition, in 1903, of a vast domain
lying west of the Mississippi river. His
and aS
one million square miles Of land, together
with full possession of the Mississippi
! river. Within this magnificent domain
| number of states and territories have been
| established, adding grandeur and power to
the kepublic OF such vast Importance, was
| this territory to our country that Napoleon,
with whom President Jefferson negotiated
the purchase, said:
This accession of territory strengthens
forever the power of the United States,
and have just given to England mari
time rival that, sooner or later, Will humble
The wisdom of this purchase has long
since been INDICATED. The territory to-
day is peopled with millions of prosperous
citizens engaged in developing the mex
nauStlDle natural resources, tilling the
| fertile soil and building enduring cities.
Steps have been taken to properly COM
memorate this fortunate event in our his
tory, and plans are being cOnsummated for
| an exposition in 1908 at the City of st.
Louis. In view of the fact that nearly all
of the territory comprising Minnesota was
included In that purchase, 1t is eminently
proper that our state should be prominently
! represented at the proposed exposition.
with that end In view l recommend an
our state to show to, the world our vast
resources, our great development and our
| splendid thrift and progress.
PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION.
| Arrangements have also been perfected
! for Pan,American Exposition to be held
May LIST to October LIST, 1901. CONNER
cially the east and middle west are closer
than ever before; In these days, of rapid
eastern markets within a comparatively
short time after shipment. Our manu-
features as well as the products Of our
| creased favor in the markets of the world.
To stimulate our thrift and famiiarize
| the people of the world with the unsur-
passed character of our products no COM
mercial opportunity should be overlooked
| suitable building should be erected upon
| the exposition site wherein the vast and
varied resources of our state may be dis
| played and the people made to know the
| superior character and value of our prod
ucts.
l hence recommend suitable appropria-
| tion so that our state may be PROPERLY
| represented at this important exposition.
THE PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.
| The Primary Election law, once tried.
will never be abandoned. So far as l am
able to time law
| been found, but these can be remedied by
i amendments and changes, which will add
| greatly to It's efficiency. These should be
| made and when thus perfected, the law
| should be extended so as to operate in other
populous counties. if not over the entire
| state. As to making 1t general, however
1t might be well to pursue conservative
| course.
1t is said that reforms never go back
| general in Minnesota in the near future.
| If you remember the Australian ballot sys-
tenn, at first only operating in the large
the whole country, and any attempt to re
turn to former. methods would almost re-
| suit in revolution.
Both laws are needed, one being the COM
| plement of the other. The method pre-
| scribed is the fnirest and simplest plan Of
expressing the choice of the voter for the
| candidate whom he will support in the
| election to follow. 1t would forever abol-
| ish the caucus, and prevent combinations
and other questionable methods practiced
| at conventions, whereby the few control
! and maintain power, oftentimes to the in
jury Of the state. This: power should rest
with the people and with good primary
| low. " iO'
EDUCATION.
| Minnesota takes front rank among her
| sister states along educational lines. Her
| great university, the pride of all, is sec
| ond to no other similar institution In eff
| cheney and is only surpassed in numbers
| by one or two others enrolment of stu
dents this year being 3,4oo. With it's eff,
| teachers it is doing grand work for the
| young men and women of Minnesota Its
| Department or School of Agriculture has
| been Of incalcuable benefit to the farmers
| Of the state Its needs VIII VII De eG eare1uiiy
| The normal schools, too, are leaders
| q nong schools of like character. The
teachers furnished by them have added
tenn, for they are to be found In every part
Of the state and always doing splendid d
| this fifth normal school in September of
this year. These great institutions are
now fully recognized as t5i Necessary IN p fh
| future, would urge. that certain mill
| tax be levied upon the plan adopted for
the, university. This has been done In sew
eral states.
Our high. and graded schools are also
! higher institutions of learning, we should
| not neglect the common schools. In all
our schools there are 800, 207 pupils. More
| than so per cent of the children included
In this vast number obtain all the educa-
ton that they ever get, in. the rural
| schools. In them is laid the foundation OF
| good citizenship. To, properly educate
| those who have only the. opportunity af-
| forded by our rural schools, Is great re.
| sponsibility, for there the real majority. of
our children must receive enough practical
| education to become good citizens, or never
get II Erorr moor hoy and girl In Mime