The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-12-23
MEETING IS CALLED.
People Asked to Express Them
selves on Railway Proposal.
Eastern Construction Company
Offers Modified Terms.
o., st. C., G. & M. Railway Can
be Built Next Year.
Directors Call a Meeting for
Dec. 20, at Mankate.


The eastern construction company
that has been negotiating with the Du-
ltuh, st. Cloud, Glencoe & Mankato
Railway company in regard to building
the section of the road between Albert
Lea and Mankato has submitted a modi-
fed proposition to the company along
the general lines of the first proposition
with such changes as have been sug-
gested by the directors of the railway
company, all of which The Free Press
has recently published. The construc-
ton company now offers to finance and
build the fiftytwo miles of road pro-
vided the people along the line furnish
$ll5,000 in money and the right of
way and the terminals. In return for
this, these people are to receive $780,
600 of first mortgage gold bonds of the
road, bearing five per cent interest.
The railway company has been given
by the construction company until Jan.
5th to determine whether or not it will
accept the proposition. If it is accept
ed the material will be ordered at once,
subcontracts let and the road complet-
ed by Jan. lst, 1906. The company will
also put up sufficient bond to insure its
carrying out the contract.
Directors c. n. Andrews, F. NJ. Cur
rier and Hubert Bruels met in this
city today and considered the matter,
and this afternoon gave out a state
ment, in substance as follows: The
proposition is a genuine one, made by
Irresponsible parties and in good faith.
The terms are such that it ought to be
possible for the people to accept them.
Especially should Mankato feel interest
ed because the building of this section of
road will give the city direct access to
three great railway systems that do not
now reach the city-the Rock Island,
Mankato would become terminal point
equal to the twin cities, and more
than ever a distributing center. The
prospect for extending the line later
would be good, but even if it was not
extended it would be a great thing for
Mankato.
Mankato's interest in the building of the
road should be equal to that in the
building of the electric line, and sub.
scriptions to the amount given that line
would insure it's construction.
The directors of the road hold them
selves to be only the representatives
of the communities in which they live,
with no more interest in the building
of the line than other citizens have
and not as much as some have To
place the responsibility of the accept.
ance or rejection of the proposition on
the people, the directors have appointed
a meeting of the directors of the COM
pany with representative men living
along the line, who shall be invited by
letter or in person to be present to con-
slider the matter. This meeting will
be held in Mankato, in the board of
trade rooms, Wednesday, Dec. 2Sth, at
y p. m. 1t is not TO be a mass meet
ing in the ordinary acceptance of the
term, but it will be in no sense secret
meeting. 1t is one designed for those
who are able to carry the project for
ward if they so determine. The ac
ton taken at that meeting will deter
mine the attitude of the directors to-
wards the proposition, as to its accept
ance or rejection. The proposition will
be fully explained at that time.