The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-02-28
MERCHANTS ACT.
Letter From Gen. Supt. Tren-
holm Received.
Fourth Street Negotiations to Follow
Walnut Street Vacation.---Matte
Left to Council.


The Merchants Protective associa-
tion held a meeting Thursday to con-
slider the matter of the vacation of
Walnut street, the acquisition by the
city of the Omaha roads Fourth
street property, and the electric ligh-
ing question.
The railway committee reported that
it held a personal conference with
General Superintendent Trenholm
and Secretary Woodman of the Oman
road, and that these officials had assur
ed the committee that the railway COM
pany did not expect to secure the end
of Walnut street for nothing, but that
it wants it at once if at all, and that
it would accept it as payment on &C
count in any bargain that may be
made in regard to the Fourth street
property. .....
The committee also reported that it
had since received the following
letter:
'St. Paul, Mimi, Feb. II. 1902.
"Mr. J. b. Long,
Chairman Citizens Committee,
"Mankato, Minnesota.
Dear Sir: 1 beg to acknowledge
receipt of communication from your
committee under date of Feb 14th and
in reply will state that this company
and the G. & N. W. have asked the
Mankato city officials to vacate that
portion of Walnut street across our
property near the passenger station,
for the purpose of giving us space to
erect an eating house for the accom-
mediation of our patrons. This l feel is
in the interest of Mankato as we'll as
the railroads.
81 realize, as you no doubt do, that
Walnut street at this point is of no
value to the city of Mankato, as they
cannot utilize it in any way. 1t is, of
course, our desire to go ahead with
this improvement as rapidly as posi-
BILE, and as it will require some time
to complete plans. get material, etc.,
we would be pleased if you could feel
justified in withdrawing your objec-
tion to the vacating of this portion
of Walnut street.
''As regards the property on Fourth
street, will state that it is not the
desire of the management to maintain
anything thereon which will be OBJ
jectionable to the citizens of Mankato.
Question of sale, lease or exchange
of said property is matter that would
have to be determined by the chief ex-
ecutive officer of this company. I as
sumo it will take some time on your
part and that of the city to determine
just what proposition they desire to
make in this matter, and as soon as
you have agreed on the plans and
submitted same, can assure you that
your proposition will be promptly
submitted to the proper officer and a
decision reached without any unneces-
sary delay. Such decision will embrace
such equity as the city may have in
that portion of Walnut street vacated
for our use.
"Yours truly,
ga. W. TRENHOLM,
"Gen. Superintendent.
The matter was talked over at some
length and the following resolution
was adopted:
q
instructed to report to the city council
tomorrow evening what information
they have received on the subject of
the proposed Walnut street vacation
and the proposed Fourth street im-
provement, and recommend that the
proposed vacation of Walnut street be
confined to that portion of WalnnI street
asis embodied in the said railroad COM
pany's right of way and depot grounds,
and that the vacation of said portion
of said street be coupled with the re-
quest of the assurance on the part of
the railroad company that the. three
half blocks on the east side of Fourth
street between Mulberry and Spring
be leased or conveyed to the city on
terms satisfactory to the municipality.
The committee on electric lighting
presented number of letters which
it had received since the last meeting
in answer to the inquiries sent out
These letters are somewhat more
favorable, as whole, to the establish
ment of municipal plant for doing
street and commercial lighting. thar
the first bunch that was read.
The committee was instructed t.
give the city council all the informa
ton which it had received on the sub
ject, and was continued.
The ASSOCIATION will hold its regula
monthly meeting next Tuesday night
A considerable number of cases o
small nov having davelOned in th