The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-02-06

r pense convert the city of Mankato int
r La beauty spot, a veritable garden o.
Eden.
Through the influence of this Social
Science club the public library of Man.
kato had its birth. Ithas grown to mag.
nifcent proportions and the substantial
building on Third street is the result
May not Mankato Civic Improvement
league here and now have its birth, and
launch forth in the interest of clean
modern little city? This will not only
cultivate the aesthetic taste of our peo-
pie, but will enhance many per cent the
value of our homes. 1t is a mistaken
idea to think that these improvements
for Identification are only luxuries, they
appreciate many fold the value of the
property.
What can Civic Improvement League
do in Mankato? 1t can do what leagues
have done in other cities where nature
has done less than she has here. Let us
commence with Third street which is
already paved and boulevarded Two
pretty rows of thrifty young elm trees
can be planted, one ON either side run
ming exactly in the center of the boule-
ward. These trees should be of the same
size, not too large or too near together,
and equal distant one from the other.
Then beautiful flower beds of different
kinds of flowers in beds of varying size
and shape; some in the form of the let
| ter S, others in the form of cross, again
others shaped like star. Here and there
small fountain on the boulevard lawn
would add much to the beauty, and but
little to the expense. La many places
the city offers water free to those who
will place and maintain small fountains,
and this certainly could be done in Man
kato where the water works belong to
the city, and are being operated at
profit. Fountains attract around them
beautiful birds which will seek these
places for bathing.
I have been speaking of beautifying the
boulevard outside of the walks. Let the
civic league by. its influence and educa-
tional efforts beautify the boulevard as
above indicated, and 1 will guarantee it
will not be long before the front yards
from one end of the street to the other
will compare well in beauty and taste
with the boulevard. Every property own
er will vie with his neighbor in making
his front yard pretty, and here will be of
ferd great opportunity for variety. Is
that all for Third street? No, in due
time cut down the ugly i'll shaped box
elders and other like trees; keep the elms
well trimmed and growing straight. The
league can ask for and probably succeed
in having the telephone and telegraph
companies paint their poles White, and
the expense of planting a climbing vine
at the foot of each one will be tfiffling.
With the vine clad poles white and the
green vine being in color complementary,
the beautiful rows of elms, the green
lawns with flower beds of various forms,
and colors, the playing fountains and
singing birds, Third street will be an
Elysium.
What can the league do for Second
street? First, park the center; Second
street is ten to twelve feet wider than
it should be; park of twelve feet wide
can run along the center of each block.
A double row of some small trees or
Towering shrubs can be set one row on
either side with beds of foliage plants in
the center. An occasional small foun-
tain, placed here and there will add much
to the beauty of the street, and in sum-
mer to the comfort of the people.
Of course there will be opposition to
improvements of this kind but judi
cious, carefully acting league can soon
educate the people that they will heartily
cooperate.
The writer of this paper can testify
that there will be some opposition, for
two years ago he offered at his own ex-
pense to park one block of Second street,
plant trees, and make lawns, and even
put in and run fountain, but some of
our leading citizens opposed it on the
ground that two hay racks could not
pass each other.
There is one place ON Second street
that is a veritable eyesore to all citizens
of aesthetic taste. 1t is the vacant area
between the Minneopa House and Mr.
Odiard's lot. A lattice fence should be
placed on the rear of this place near the
barn This would shut out the unsightly
view of old manure piles and old barrels.
The lattice could be painted some
bright color, vines planted and allowed
to cling to the lattice work; the area
converted into pretty lawn, and a nice
bed of foliage plants in the center. All
this could be done for less than $25 and
it would add $500 to the value of the pro-
perty, besides being joy to the nun
dreds that pass by daily. There are other
similar places on all the streets that
could be in some way beautifed with but
little expense. Much credit is due the
BOYS of the fire station for the little
beauty spot they have made on the south
side of their building.
But you may ask what civic league
=. 1Ean,-a+o could do for Front street?