The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-03-07
STREET RAILWAY.
J. H. Collins EIaborates on His
Demands.
Stock Subscription is Wanted in. Ad-
I'D
-dition to Lighting Contract.--WiIl
Submit Proposition.

In the CITY "Wednesday .=saLGernOOn
as a result of correspondence with ".
L. Hixon, to look over the city with a
view to making proposition to put
in a street railway line and an electric
lighting plant. He was closeted in a
room at the Saulpaugh yesterday af-
ternoon with Mayor Petersen and
Aids. Taylor, Leonard, Wilcox and
Heinze. Messrs. Hixon and Wilhartz
were also present at the conference.
Mr.. Collins informed the mayor and
aldermen that if given the street light
ing contract for term of years al
about the same price as paid now, he
would see that another lighting plant
was erected to do city and commercial
lighting, and that street car line was
constructed in this city, to run out to
Madison and Washington lakes. He
said that he had financed several street
railways in Iowa and other states.
Last evening a special meeting of
the Merchants Protective association
was held, to hear Mr.. Collins propos-
ton. Mayor Petersen and Aids.
Taylor, Leonard, Wilcox and Eich-
staedt were present. Mr.. Collins
then for the first time said that a
stock subscription, having the nature
of bonus to some extent, would also
be needed from our citizens, in order
to secure the enterprise.
President Pond called upon Mr.. Col
Inns for a statement. Mr.. Collins
said that he had come to Manksto at
the solicitation of citizen to consider
the building of street railway. He
did not know what the people here
had to offer, and it was up to the city
and it's officials to frame one up, so
that his people could make pro-
position. There was no reason why
the city could not have street Car
line, but it was necessary for the
builders to have some equity, and I'M
til this was framed up it would be
impossible TO make any proposition.
He had come to make an investigation,
and would do SO before he returned to
Chicago.
President Pond said that the meet
ing had been called because it was
thought that Mr.. Collins had propos-
itien to make.
Mr.. Collins said that he intended
to make one, but the people here
should be interested as we'll as the PEG,
pie who would put $500. 600 to $500, 0OC
into the plant His business was
financing railroads, and he was not
promoter. If the city had PROPOSE
ton to make, it would get an answer
in a very short time.
Hans Jorgenson said that he had ex'
pected something more definite would
be presented. He spoke of the favor
able location of the city for street
railway line. He was not in favor Of
making too much of sacrifice for the
line. Even if it was run at loss fol
a year or so, the company could make
$40, 900 or $15, 900 on lighting plan
and still have reasonable prices ant
better lights than are furnished now
Too much delay ought not to be allow
ed, as there is not any too much time
now to put in a municipal plant
The street car question has Away
come up when lighting contract il
awarded, and still the city has NJ
street cars and not much light.
Mr.. Collins was asked about an in
terurban line, and said that he hat
been considering it, and would no
consider putting in city line alone
The street lighting contract would b
treated as consideration towar'
securing the railway line. AS soon a
a proposition was received it woul
take but a short time TO make reply
as the money is ready if the PROPOSE
ton should have merit and be feasible
Mr.. Hixon said that Mr.. Collins ha
the record of having equipped stree
Car lines and lighting plants in large
cities than Mankato. He had invite
Mr.. Collins here because there ha
been poor service by the present light
ing company, whose lighting contrac
is about to expire, and because he ur
derstood that the association was i
favor of embracing an opportunity
get street car line. There was n
other way to get line than to secur
it through the street lighting contrae
at price satisfactory to all. If MI
Collins could get this and som
subscriptions to stock, there would b
no difficulty in securing the line,
he is satisfied after looking over til
ground. Mr.. Hixon said that he Wa
in favor of municipal lighting plar
if street Car line cannot be secure
through the lighting contract. Their
are men in Mankato who have sal
that they would invest in street raj
way stock. Even if the line did M
pay, the trade which it would brin
in from the country would more tina
pay interest on the money invested
1t is the history of all interurba
lines that they help to build up trat
and help the merchants. 1t cannot
expected that the people will take tt
roads bonds unless stock is subscribed
J B. Richards said that the on
thing that the Merchants Protecti,
association could offer was patronas
for commercial lighting, as they ha
been in the dark almost continual.
The aldermen were present and cou
speak for the city. The merchan