The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-03-14
ALL FAVOR 1T.
Board of Trade Meeting Unanimous For
Collins Proposition.
1T MEANS MUCH FOR CITY'S FUTURE.
Committee Appointed Act With One from Merchants Assoc
alton to CANVASS for Stock
Outlook For Electric Railway Looms Up Brght-NoW For the
Work.
MEANS MUCH FOR CITY'S FUTURE.

home management offered, ought to
be paying and attractive one. he
believed 1T should be--accepted at.once:
"a. e. Meyer believed. it should be
accepted. We need it. Lots in the
central part of the city. are too expen-
sive. ---Cheap.lots in outskirts are toe
far away. We.need rapid transit to
get to them easily and quickly. This is
good proposition. and a practical one
and should be complied with by. our
people. -
b. P. Christensen said it was good
offer. Outsiders who look us over are
always impressed with our resources
and natural advantages. Often pre-
dict that we will become city of
so, 900 or 70. 900, but we must have an
improvement like this to so grow.
This is our opportunity and no time
should be lost in accepting it.
Mayor Petersen was called for and
explained his position. We have had
poor lights and ought to have some
thing better. Believed good lights
could be produced cheaper than what
city is now paying. Had favored city
lighting plant. Believed this PROPOSE
ton good one, and thought council
would be reasonable in handling it,
and give fair price for good lights.
Expressed it as his opinion that road
and lighting plant together would pay.
Gus Widell. Have studied the pro-
position some and believe it will pay.
1t is fair and gives US what we want.
A municipal lighting plant would
cost at least $40, 600, and more likely
$75, 900 before finished and what have
you got. 1t would shut out all chance
for street railway for years to come.
There ought not to be any trouble,
in meeting the conditions OF
this proposition. Said he would be
one of forty-6ve men to put up the
stock asked for. Or he would be one
Of less number to put up So, 600 each.
This statement was greeted with ap.
plause. Continuing Mr.. Widell said
we had a good town, town thai
ought to grow. An electric road
would help push it ahead. 1t woulc
encourage manufacturing plants tt
J locate here. We cannot get better
, proposition than Mr. Collins has made
| and there ought to be no difficulty il
meeting it's requirements, and he die
not believe there would be.
W. D. Willard thought the PROPOSE
ton ought to be accepted; thought W,
ought to invest more money here a
| home. We have a good town. Away
heard compliments for it when away
Our great trouble is our condition il
too congested. Property is too higl
, for the size of our city. Men hav'
| been turned away to smaller town
because they could not afford to owl
homes here within reasonable distance
J from business center A street railwa.
will change this. Believed it woul'
, benefit city beyond measure, and tina
it would prove paying investment
3 and was willing to back up his belle
, by subscribing for stock.
Geo. M. Palmer was of the opinion
3 it was a good proposition and woul
' prove paying one But did not know
3 as question of dividend paying wa
4 one that Immediately concerned GU
3 people. Thought they could afford t
wait one, two, three, four or 6v
g years for that. 1t was the genera
o benefit that will accrue to the Who'll
b city that interests us most.
. W. A. Funk thought city like a
v individual should have some sci
d esteem. Mankato had seemed to lac
r this in the past. Did not believe i
0 granting franchises to speculate on
o This looked like safe proposition
t but would like to see city's interest
y properly guarded. Would not wan
d to see short line put in the city fc
:, sake of the city lighting contract
Mr.. Hixon said there would be &
:. least six miles of line in the city
which ought to cover it pretty we
:, for the present at least. But lir
4 simply in the city would not pay. 7
), be paying investment it must ru
:, out into the country to point whel
- good freight business can be worke
: up.
: Aid. Taylor said Mr.. Collins MAD
: the .statement that if the enterpri
!. went through it would be entire
:, :, completed by Oct 1st, including lii
: to st. Peter.
= Mr.. Hixon also said he had lett
= from Mr.. Collins yesterday and Il
- latter gentleman was going rig
,e ahead in his efforts to get the matt
!. financed, $50 1T behooyed the city
:. push this matter right along so as n
y to delay it.
ie S-Jno N. Hall said it was the be
e proposition that was ever offered t!
I. city and should be accepted.
MS G. W. Warwick referred 70 the gre
he growth and benefits which follow
n the installing of the system at W