The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-03-07

MI. COllln6 S8lQ GnaG Nc WAS uOC
prepared to give figures, but could give
better light for the price now charged.
If the city wants 1900 candle power
arc lights, that is one thing, and if it
wants 1900 candle power that was
another thing. His people would give
IL, 90 candle power and guarantee it,
and it could be tested at any time.
This light would be furnished at the
same price that is now being paid for
nominal 1000 candle power lights. 1t
would be as good a light as is now
furnished.
Jay Henry Long asked as to the
length of the country line.
Mr.. Collins said that the entire line
would be about eighteen miles, includ-
ing the city. If the line was made
% to 40 miles long, in order to get
business, the system would be loaded
down with 80 much debt as to crush
it out in the first two years, as the
first two years are always the hardest.
The people have got to be educated TO
ride on the interurban as well city
line. By reaching out TO the lakes,
the line could be made profitable, if
carefully managed. Mr.. Collins said
that he would go to Minneapolis this
morning and return tonight, and would
make an investigation of the ground
Thursday, driving out to the lakes.
Mr.. Long suggested that st. Peter
and Kasota would be good points to
reach. He asked how long it would
take to get the line complete.
Mr.. Collins said that the citizens
would have to organize local COM
pany, and that there was much pre-
liminary work to be done. 1t would
not take long to get an answer from
the capitalists. They would first want
to know what subsidies or bonuses,
if any, would be given, and what
amount of stock would be taken in
Mankato
Mr.. Long asked whether ne could
not make a proposition, containing
the requirements.
Mr.. Collins said that he could when
he got an idea as to the cost of the
line He could have proposition
ready to submit to the council Friday
night, and it would contain what
would be required in the way of
street lighting contract, subscriptions
and bonuses.
Mayor Petersen was called on, and
said that he had come to listen. The
council always liked to know the de-
sires of the people, as they could then
act more intelligently. He had al
ways advocated municipal lighting
plant, and also street railway. A
compromise might be made by secur-
ing competition in the lighting and
street railway. The council would be
found anxious to carry out the wishes
and desires of the people.
The aldermen were called upon, but
did not care to say more than the
mayor had said.
Mr.. Jorgensen asked about the price
to be charged for commercial lighting.
Mr. Collins said that he would in
clude this in his proposition Friday
night In reply to questions, he said
that two power houses would be re-
quired for line running to st. Clair,
the lakes and st. Peter. Separate
plants would be required for the light
ing and street Car services. Within
thirty days after the final agreement
was signed, men would be put at
work on the plant. He would give
satisfa ctory bond to carry out the
agreement within certain time. The
line would be completed before next
fall, if at all. He was not prepared to
say how much bonus would be re-
quired, but his people would be reason
able. They were careful in construc-
ton, for the benefit of their securities
as we'll as of the people. They had
made no failures thus far. The bonus
is invested in the construction of the
road, and consists of subscriptions to
stock. The eastern people want to
hold 90 per cent of the stock, and they
would want good portion of the
remaining Al per cent to be taken by
the people of Mankato. No charges
would be made for the investigation.
Geo. Klein asked whether Mr.. Col
Inns would make proposition for
putting in a lighting plant alone and
leave out the road.
Mr.. Collins said that he did not
think that his people would care to do
that, as one would help the other, and
the whole would make good system.
There is one lighting plant, and two
would make too much competition.
The open meeting of the association
closed, and the aldermen, reporters
and others who were not members
withdrew, leaving the association to
transact the remainder of its business
in private.
i After the meeting, several of the
aldermen expressed themselves as be.
ing disappointed with the proposition,
as nothing had been said about
bonus at the afternoon meeting. The
opinion was expressed that it would
be difficult to raise bonus of any
size in the city, through stock subscrip,
tions or otherwise. The council would
willingly grant street lighting con