The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-02-22
MANKATO'SGUESTS
Legislative Visitors at the
Normal School.
Reception Friday Night at the Saulpaugh,
and SpeeChmaking Today at
the School.

The Legislative party, composed of
the members of the senate and house
committees on normal schools and their
wives and friends, arrived from Winona
Friday evening on the Z 80 o'clock train
and repaired at once to the Saul
paugh, where accommodations had
been reserved for them. The party
was composed of the following ladies
and gentlemen: :
Senators Barker and daughter of
Cambridge, Benedict of Man
kato, Fitzpatrick of Winona, Grinde-
land and daughter Of Warren, Nixon
of Hector, and Halverson of Dawson.
Representatives G. W.. Sites of Lake
Benton, W. Nelson and wife of St.
Paul, A. Miller and wife of Duluth,
W. B. Anderson and wife of Winona,
j. |. Dobbin of Minneapolis, W. Will
cox and wife of Frazee, w. A. Nolan
and wife of Grand Meadow, w. A.
Pattee Of LETTERS, G. w Cookbook
and wife of Norwood. o. Daggett of
Sank Rapids, D. j. Dealey of Cedar
Lake, A. E. Whitford of Hastings, W.
W. Rich and wife of st. Paul, and L.C.
Stevenson of Hennepin.
Other members of the party were
W. E. Verify of Minneapolis, who has
a clerkship, Miss Wilkinson, Miss
hurry, Miss Murphy, Messrs. Farley
and Haugh, Mrs Funderhide and
Miss Walters, and DR.. J. Fl. Dorsey
and wife of Glencoe.
At nine o'clock, a reception was ten
dered the party in the parlors of the
hotel. Director Clark, President
Cooper and members of the faculty of
the normal school. assisted by Senator
Benedict, composed the reception COM
mittee, and a large number of citizens
called to pay their respects to the
members of the legislature and their
wives and daughters. Punch was
served and a very pleasant hour was
spent in social converse.
A musical and literary program was
carried out and was much enjoyed. A
chorus of ten young ladies from the
normal school was the first to appear,
and was followed by Leo Carney with a
solo, Miss Woodbury. with a recitation,
Miss Cora Carney with a solo, and
Mrs. FIJI. Snyder with a solo. Each
of the numbers was heartily applauded
and several were encored.
Carriages were in waiting at the
hotel at 80 o'clock this forenoon to
take the party to the school, where
the forenoon was spent in inspecting
the building, visiting the classes, and
getting an understanding of the need
of an appropriation for a heating
plant, gymnasium and library.
At II o'clock the speech making
commenced. The platform was COM
fortably filled with visitors and a
goodly sprinkling of some Of our own
distinguished citizens. The assembly
remained to hear some of our ablest
lawmakers speak.
The exercises opened with singing
by the normal chorus led by Miss Cora
Carney, who is now the efficient in
structor in music.
President Cooper was the first
speaker and stated the needs of the
school in a clear and concise manner.
At present there are $40 students en-
rolled in the normal department and
800 in the training classes. Last year
there were 407 students in the normal
department and the falling off is at
tributed to the dropping of the &C.
class two years ago, also dispensing
with the elementary course had had the
same effect. 1t is hoped that the adop-
tion of the recent changes will restore
our numbers.
In speaking Of the needs of the
school President Cooper emphasized
the necessity for a new and modern
heating plant. At present 90 furnaces
are used in heating the building, the
patent on some of them dating back
to 1868. They are a source of danger
and at least ten of them should be
taken out. Several small fires have
started in the building at different
times. Economy of fuel should also be
considered as these old furnaces all
burn wood which is becoming scarcer
and dearer. The heating plant should
be built separate from the main build
ing and as the expense of a second
story would be light it is hoped this
room might be fitted for a library.
These two items besides the appropri-
alton for books, furniture and other
i~ncidentals is all that is asked for this
year.
President Cooper then introduced
Senator G. L.. Benedict, who acted
as master of ceremonies. Mr.. Bene-
dict, who is always a most loyal and
substantial friend of the nomal school,
spoke eloquently of the grand old in
stitution of learning where he gradu-
ated when a young man. He spoke of
the states great and thought
they should be generous with these
state institutions.
W. b. Anderson, representative from
Winona, was the next speaker, and
said he was gratifed with the appear
ance of the school. He was not a
normal graduate himself but had done
the best he could by marrying a lady
who was. He said the means were
somewhat limited but thought he
voiced the sentiments of the members
of the appropriation committee when
he said they would do all they could
for the school.
Senator Grindeland of Warren, who
represents the sixty-third district,
was the next speaker and said he rep
+ resented the section nearest the north
pole. 1t is the largest district in the
state and is building up rapidly. He
invited the young people when they
graduate to come out there and they
could all get schools. He was willing
to build up the public schools and the
university, but not at the sacri.. flee of
the normal schools He complimented
the Mankato senator and congratulated
him on his beautiful home city and
said he had enjoyed his visit here.
W. w. Rich of New Brighton, heal
st. Paul, said he used to live in this
district. and said he thought the
school had closed when he helned