The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-11-14
Another Street Railway Pro-
ject Looms Up.
Parties 10 Appear Before the Council
Tonight.-ko Lighting Contract
or Bonus Wanted.

DTOJtCJ5 UNTIL Work aCLudlly Dt gins.
F. T. Nestor OF Chicago, accompan-
led by his wife. arrived in the city
Wednesday noon. and has since been
bnsily engaged in driving abo' he
city and surrounding country. Friday
he gave it ont that he desires TO Sc
cure franchise from the council for
an ipterurban railway to operate on
the str cts of this city and run to 81.
Peter and possibly elsewhere. h will
appear before the council and present
his.request AS. a preliminary, ne in
teryiewed Mayor Petersen in the fore
noon, and gave it out that he would
see the aldermen. during the day. He
also called upon A. e. Clark in the fore
noon and partially arranged to retain
him to prepare the franchise and
other papers.
Mr.. Nestor claims to be something
more than promoter. He and his
father in-law are said to have copsid-
cradle of this worlds goods them.
selves, but they represent, SO it is
said, Mr.. Deere, of Moline. ILL.,, the
well-known plow manufacturer, who
is said to be millionaire.
The Deere interests have in recent
years invested heavily in electric rail
way enterprises, interurban railways
having the preference. They have
constructed such railway at Moline,
and are now building one at Daven-
port, Iowa. They have an ther line
completed, and one under way.
Mr. Nestor desires to have fran
chise covering Front street to the
park. with the streets needed to form
several loops. He proposes to run a
line to ST. Peter, and later on may
build line 10 st. Clair and Alma
City. He desires prompt action on
the part of the council 1t may be
that special meeting Of the council
will be held next week to consider
the matter.
Mr. Nestor gives it ont that he
does not want street lighting con-
tract attached to the franchise, as his
company does not build lightir z
plants. Neither does he want bonus
of any other kind. His company
builds street railway projects that
stand on their own foundation and
are not fostered and bolstertd up by
lighting contracts and cash bonuses.
1t hes been suggested to Mr.. Mes.
tor that bond will likely be required
before franchise is granted. He does
not take kindly to this prouusiIion,
say Ing that it would hinder him liz
rocnring right of way outside of the
city, IS the people with whom he
would have to deal would say that
Msnk alto had him ''cinch. d" with a
bond and would put up their prices.
He states that he is willing to giver
bond as soon as everything has beer
secured in the way of franchises.
right of way. ETC.
The council will undoubtedly gc
slow in granting franchise. to see
that the city does not get the worst OF
it, and to see that a sufficient bond tc
guarantee good faith is required, il
this should seem the wise thing to do.
At least one of the alderman feels
that Mr. Nestor's proposition should
be given careful consideration before
favorable action is taken. He feels
that the presenting of the request for
a franchise at this particular time.
when a lighting contract lie TO be
awarded, may have some relation to
the latter It has been claimed that
treet railway could not he obtained
unless attached to a lighting contract.
Ii it could be made to appear that n
railway conld be obtained without
any such contract. the presumption is
that the council might feel it to be
the best policy to award long time
lighting contract at a comparativey
low figure The alderman feels that
while MIR. Nestor's appearance at this
particular time may not have been in
spired by Mason. Lewis g. Co. or any
other prospective bidder on the street
lighting. 1t will be we'll enough to
pr coed cautiously.
Ii Mr.. Nestor is able to carry ont
the street railway enterprise. he will
surely have the support of the people
OF Mankato, as there is no ne thing
SO generally desired as an efficiently
constructed and conducted street rail
way that will reach ont into the coun,
try He came 70 the city with a
knowledge of the conditions here. as
thoroughly posted as Mr. Collins was
after he had concluded his investiga-
TONS. That these data were furnish
ed him by an electrical house which
has Mankato on it's list OF places where
there are openings for a street railway
enterprise Is possible. Maukato is
considered good point for a street
ilway, with an inter-urban line to
st. Peter.
More light will be thrown ON the
matter from time to time as the pro-
ject is uDfolded to the council and
people. Every encouragement ought
and no doubt will be extended to Mr.
Nesror and company If there is auy
chance Of getting a street railway free
from expensive contracts and bonuses.