The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-02-14

there is yet much diversion Of senti-
ment as to the kind Of material that
shall be used, and the council and
board of trade will find it fruitful
field to work in the crystalizing of sem
timent for a practical improvement.
1t was revealed that there is strong
sentiment in favor of mscadam for
even our principal business streets.
The Free Press believes q mistake will
be.made if any--less than paving.-is
used. In fact we belive. that not..only
Front street should be paved, .but.. Sec
ond and Broad streets as..well. and all
of the principal cross streets from
Front to Broad at least. Then as to
other streets, in the residence portion,
possibly good macadsm would do.
especially where the travel over them
ID mostly of q light nature. But it
must be kept in mind that paving on
q narrow roadbed with the ten year
guarantee that is offered by some COM
panies, is not as expensive as it first
looks. In fact macadam or other kinds
of improvement, with the necessary
repairs during ten years might cost al
most, If not quite as much, and would
probably not prove as satisfactory as
the pavement. In deciding the matter
of material TO be used, we should look
beyond the matter of first expense.
Had this been done on Front street
several years ago, we would now have
good street and been money ahead.
in the city treasury. .... .
Another matter which was brought
before the board by DR.. Andrews, and
which is likely to cause considerable
discussion before it is disposed of, is
that referring to city lighting plant,
and suggesting that the contract for
street lighting be used as bonus at
reasonable price and good service to
secure a street railway. This is a
practical solving of the question, and
it is to be hoped that the board will
take the matter up at its next meet
ing and not allow it to rest until some
arrangements have been made, either
with the local lighting company, or
through a new organization for the
securing of rapid transit for the city.
1t will be noted in the resolutions upon
this subject, which were published last
evening, the statement was made that
a plant for street lighting purposes
would cost from $40, 900 to $25, 900.
This is far below what such a plant
would actually cost the city New
Ulm recently let the contract for q
plant solely for street lighting pur-
poses, for slightly less than $50, 900,
and it was stated by the local papers
there, that it would cost So, 900 to Sc,
900 more before it was installed, max
ing some $50, 900 for a city of less
than half our size. and much more
compactly built. A good plant here
would doubtless cost from $40, 600 to
$50, 900. The statement of Prof.
Father that the city cannot expect to
furnish its own lights for less than it
is now paying, ought to settle the
matter, it would seem, in favor of |
Offering to combine the matter Of |
lighting our streets with scheme for
rapid transit. We hope to see the
good work entered upon by the board
Of trade last fall taken up again and
pushed forward to something tangible
Another matter which came before
he board was that of securing a lake
djacent to the city. Like Banquo's
host, the idea of securing a body of
7ater near the city will not down.
he building Of dam on the Mime
ota is an old scheme but will doubt
sss never materialize. The question
{ the navigsbiIity of the river might
OF be as hard q matter to overcome,
nder present conditions as would the
pposition likely to arise from the OPP
osite side of the river in North Man
alto. They fear the effects of such a
,ove and would doubtless fight it tot
be last. This fact was most forcibly
rought out when the matter was upI
year or two ago, and many offers to
ubscribe to a fund was made. Ifts
7ater could be obtained with which to
Ill 1t. the slough south of the city
would be the most suitable place.
doubtless the plan that could be work
out the easiest, would be to build a
am at the mouth OF the Blue Earth
and make q nice lake at the park.
his would greatly enhance the attrac-I /,
iveness OF the park and make it one Of
he greatest beauty spots in this sec
ion, and could be brought about for
much less money than the proposed
on the Minnesota. But
here comes the matter of rapid transit
gain. The board of trade surely has
! nice little problem on its hands to
york out, and if it solves it, it will
accomplish much for the city in many
Ways.