The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-05-01
Plan Is Proposed That Will Bring In
dustries to Mankato.
Board of Trade Starts Something at
Last Nights Meeting.
An Interesting Session Held and Much
Enthusiasm Displayed.
H. A. Patterson Sends Communication
New Good Thunder Road.
From tuesdays Daily.

From tuesdays Daily.
Plans for the formation of club. the
purpose OF which shall be to induce the
location OF, manufacturing concerns in
Mankato, We're partially outlined at a
meeting OF the board OF trade last night.
This club or association will be an adj
lunct of the board and the idea is TO have
the organization worl. in harmony with
the board in all matters which will tend
TO build up Mankato. The scheme has
been discussed informally at board meet
ings, but not until last night was any
direct step taken 70 bring about de-
sired results. In brief ~, purpose of
the new movement is to get together an
unlimited number of men who Will con-
tribute money to secure the removal to
Mankato OF substantial manufactur-
ing plants.
C. H. Saulpaugh, who was present at
last nights session of the board, reiter-
ated his statement made some weeks ago
that he stood ready to donate 500 to-
ward every factory that will employ 100
men. To the factory employing 200 men
he will give $500
John Klein agreed to do likewise and
this brought H. P. Jensen to his feet with
a similar promise.
After some discussion it was agreed
that committee of three should be APP
pointed to draft a proposition to be made
t. the business and professional men of
each member to subscribe certain
amount, the money to be devoted to
bringing factories to this city. 1t was
not decided in just what manner the
agreement OF proposition should be word
ed. that to be left in the hands of the
committee. 1t was the general opinion
that more than one hundred men could,
be induced 10 become members of the
new association or club.
Several gentlemen discussed the future
prospects of Mankato, and held out the
hope that this city viii move forward
from now on in a way that would be
pleasing to her inhabitants. But it was
felt ON all sides that each man must give
a push to the wheels in order that certain
obstacles can be overcome.
Letter From Mr.. Patterson.
H. A. Patterson sent in the following.
communication, which was read:
The Mankato Board of Trade.-Mr.
President and Gentlemen: ! want this
evening to make some statements of
what in my judgment are facts concern
ing Mankato's welfare before this body
which has the opportunity as well as the
power, if its energies be spent in the
right direction to make a city of
our town SEVERAL times its present size
in a very few years. Let me also in the
beginning express the wish that others
of our citizens may likewise freely and
frankly come before this organization
with their views and grievances, all Of
which should be accepted and considered
in spirit of good fellowship, after which
we can get together shoulder to shoulder
and push in one direction.
The retarded development of our little
city has been the source of much disap-
pointment to me as well as to most of
her citizens, and l usually make COM
parative study of other places when away
from home.
/ have /just returned from a two
months combination business and pleas
IRE trip, and while absent visited many
thriving cities, large and small, in the
west and middle west. One of them,
Los Angeles, California, with a popula-
ton of about 100000 in 1900, is accord
inc to late statistical estimation growing
more each week than Mankato has each
year during the last decade. While con-
diticns there are different | want to
affirm that neither that town nor any
other know has right to exceed Man
kato's proportionate growth to any sucl
extent. We have a splendid town but
the point wish to make is that we ought
to have a much better and larger one.
Now what is the matters? Surely w
are not behind most of those cities show
ing larger growth in natural resources
for our limitless stone quarries, exhaust
less beds of brick clay, and fertile agri
cultural country surrounding US, produc
returns besides giving employment t
hundreds of men, far in excess of an,
such natural advantages in many larg
cities. Neither are we lacking in tina
important requisite to towns growth
railroad facilities, which can be judge
by the success or failure of various line
of manufacturing and jobbing business
for with scarcely an exception has SUE
cess met the efforts of men in thes
ines, which proves as well that we ar
fhe center of good distributiye terri
tory. Our retail stores are large, and no