The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-11-14
GOING TO ST. PAUL
Undoubted Destination of Elec-
trio Line.
Difference Of Opinion About the Effect
of This---Suggesticn That Track
Be on Second Street.

that f. Ct. Realtors proposed interur-
ban electric line to st. Peter is
merely the first step in line from
Msnksto to st. Paul Inquiries which
he is known to have made concerning
the valley road to st. Paul, the num-
Der of times it crosses railroad tracks.
the grade. etc, lead to this conclusion.
Mr.. Kesror desires the right of way
for this road on Front street, and it
is not proposed to put in any loops
to cover the city, as The Free Press
understands it. This being the case,
a citizen suggests that it would be
better TO have the track run along
Second street, as Front street is too
busy and important street to be cut
up with railway track without the
compromising advantages of a city
street Car system. Even should city
system be installed later, in connec-
ton with lighting contract or when
the city has grown sufficiently to war
rant Ii, Second street would be better
than Front for car line, A line on
Second street would pass in front of
the postoffice and opera house, the two
most fIequentsd buildings in the city,
and only one block from the public
library. 1t would be only one block
from Front street, which wonld be
about IS convenient as though it was
ON that street. Of course, Front street
would be crossed by lines running TO
the depots.
The suggestion of this citizen is,
worthy of consideration. If the city
grows, Second street will undoubtedly
become the principal retail business
street, go that car line would be bet
ter there than on Front street.
There is diversity of opinion as to
the effect of an electric line to the
twin cities. 1t is conceded that it
would reduce the passenger fare to
about a cent mile, while probably
taking longer to make the trip. Some
fear that it would result in much
greater share of the retail trade going
to tn twin cities than now, while
oth-rs say that MaDkato is too far
way from the twins to be affected
in this mnaner. 1t is pointed out that
a certain city in Indiana had 10, 900
population a few years ago, when a
electric line connecting it with In
diana polls sixty miles away, was put
in. Now that same city has some
80, 900 population. On the other hand,
saltwater is pointed to as an exam
pie Of how an electric line to a large
city kills off a town. Saltwater is
only fifteen miles from st. Paul
however, and the steam cars might
have effected the same injury.
Il is doubtful whether ladies are
going to ride on electric cars for three
or four hours in order to do their
shopping in the twin cities, when
they can ride there now in far more
comfortable steam cars in three and
half hours. 1t is likely that Mankatc
mas but little to fear from an electric
line to the twin cities. 1t might be
beneficial to the city by reducing
freight rates and by bringing in peo-
pie from ST. Peter, LIE Sueur, ETC., to
tbs thea tire and elsewhere.
o. P. Hord of Aurora, ILL.,, arrived
in the city last night to join his SON.
in-Iaw, f. G. Keator of Chicago, and
ieok over the ground with view to
finding out whether an interurban
H. 'way to St. Peter would be profit
sble III, stment He drove to that
city this forenoon, and in expressing
his views this afternoon said that IL
would be very expensive piece of
road to build, owing to the uneven
ness of the ground and the rock cuts
necessary. Electric lines, he said, no
longer follow the surface of the
ground, like the first wildcat lines
did. that afterwards went into the
hands Of receivers ana had to be re-
built.
Speaking of a line in Mankato,
Mr.. Hord said that it was not likely
that one to branch off from Front
street would pay. as every curve
around corner costs ST. 600 TO Is, 600
and requires man to keep in order.
A car will run on straight track
with two horse power, but it requires
70 tyof nd
curve. There is not city of 10, 600
population anywhere where a city
street Car system pays. His idea is to
run line through the city from the
stone quarries to the park.
Regarding the future. Mr.. Hord
said that the idea would be to con-
tinue on to st. Paul as rapidly as pos
sible, one section at time.
Mr.. Hord does not want the people
of Mankato to gain the idea that
line is to be built, as he is here
merely to ascertain whether one would
nav. If it will, and the necessary
franchises and right of way can be
secured the capital is assured. No
bonxs in any form is required.
Messrs. Hord and Keator will meet
with the committee on ordinances this
evening.
If the line should be built, this FACT
will be known within few weeks.
Very Low ates to International Live
Stock Exposition.
Via the North Western line. Excur-