The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-12-20
COL. CHASE'S PROPOSITION.

Elsewhere in this issue of the Free
Press will be found very exhaustive
and specific proposition from Col.
Chase for the construction of the pro-
posed electric railway from Mankato
to st. Cloud via of Hutchinson. That
this line would be of great value to
the terminal cities, as well as to the
intermediate towns along the line,
cannot be denied. 1t would really be
preferable in many ways to a steam
road, for every farmer along the route
would, or could have a station in front
of his own house. The products of his
farm could be hauled to market at a
great saving in cost and in point of
passenger service he would be served
as we'll as though he lived in town and
in close proximity to the depot. While
these advantageous features are con-
ceded, the people of Mankato, and
along the line to st. Cloud, are in no
mood to take up with any proposition
that lacks the essential element of
good faith and stability on the part of
the projectors. Our people have been
called upon too often, to jump at any
bait in the future, however tempting,
unless the string attached thereto is
made of warp and wool sufficiently
strong to stand the strain of rigid in
vestigation as to the financial standing
and good faith of the parties proposing
to construct the line. In other words
1--WE fishes are getting just a trife
shy OF grabbing at phantom bait that
casts an alluring shadow with no sub
stance to appease gnawing appetite.
Col. Chase is to be commended for
the frankness of his communication.
II would seem that he has left nothing
from his proposition that would call
for supplemental termination or addi-
tional demands He suggests that Man
kato's share to the proposed road
would be ss5, 900 in cash, franchise
for electric railway, twenty acres of
ground for power house, ete., and a
sixty foot righ5-of to Oshawa.
His demand from other towns
along the line is in like proportion
Importance of points Of course being
considered.
The protector requires So. 900 for a
survey-fully twice as much as it cost
to survey Capt Reeds road the same
distance. He itemizes also large sums
for bond printing, etc., in each in
stance twice as much as the articles
would cost. But these are, of course are
small things to consider in great
project, and the people will not be
penurious to the point of differing
very materially with Col. Chase on
them. But the big items look large
just before the holidays He wants
800, 900 bonus right-of way the en-
tire distance, twenty acres of land
each from Mankato and St. Cloud, and
two acres from each of the several
towns between these cities and four
acres from Hutchinson Now the line
may be worth all and more than this,
to the cities and the farmers, but il
will not De an easy matter to secure it.
1t would not be 80 bad if the colonel
would demand simply the 500, DOC
bonus or eliminating the money con.
sideration it would probably be NO
great task, to secure for him the right
Of way and acreage property But +
he adheres infexibly to both, there is
grave doubts whether or not the feat
can be accomplished.
However. now that Col. Chase has
made his wants known. it is up tt
him to inform US just what kind OF
financial backing he has, with such
other information as our people will
demand to satisfy them that there art
two responsible and determined sides
to this proposition. He can no doub
do this, and very likely will do 81
when the request comes from some
organization that will probably be
effected to take the matter up officially
In the meantime, the Mankato BOARD
of Trade should not fail to be repre-
sented at the meeting IN Hutchinson
on the 27th, inst.
-A--