The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-08-05

Keator, who did not possess any exclu-
sive franchise.
1t was only recently that the Hance
people had said that they would come
out and build road. They ought to
show binding agreement with their firm
and the $4,000 already subscribed, be-
! fore they would be as far along as the
Willard people.
Mr.. Eberhart did not think it wise to
ask any bond for the construction of the
line. The company that proposed to
build the line was a Mankato company
of Mankato people.
w. L. Hixon said that at the time the
Hance proposition was brought up, there
were only rumors that somebody was
| figuring on line to ST. Clair. The Hance
people had no contract, but they had
what was just as good. They were not
expecting this opposition.
Mr.. Hixon exhibited letters showing
that Mr.. Deegan was a most practical
street railway builder. His company
was shown to have already done extern
sive work of that kind in Philadelphia
and other parts of the east. Mr.. Hixon
produced like testimony ON behalf of R.
f. Lopez & Co. of Philadelphia, the fiscal
agents who proposed to finance the Man
kato road.
Mr.. Hixon had proposition to make
to the other side. He said that, if six
weeks after the franchise for the build
ing of the road as proposed by the Hance
people, material for the building of the
same was not on the ground, the Hance
people would, with the consent of the
subscribers to their bonding list, turn
over the list to the Willard people, and
let them have the benefit of what work
had been done.
The Hance people were ready to fur
nish bond for the construction of the
road on receiving their franchise. There
ought to be such bond.
While not all the money was subscrib-
ed for the bonds, as would be necessary
to get the line, about $4,000 had al
ready been raised. He had telegraphed
to his eastern connections that this
money had been raised, and received
reply that contract for street car rails
had been placed with the Carnegie COM
pany.
HI. E. Hance told how he had worked
to get Mr.. Deegan interested in Mankato.
He did not expect any competition at
that time w. d. Willard had told him
that Mr.. Willard and his uncle were at
work on a st. Clair deal. Mr.. Hance
said he had told w. D. Willard to GO
right ahead. w. D. Willard had said:
"You keep off of our grass and we will
keep off of yours" He signed the Hance
list and agreed to give quarter of
his real estate. Mr.. Deegan had said
that he was willing to build the St.
Clair route and the whole lake route.
Mr.. Eberhart, on inquiry of Mr.. Com
stock, said that the Willard company
had been capitalized at only $4,000, but
it was not necessary to capitalize at the
whole 100000 before the eastern people
would commence the bonding work. Nor
would it be necessary even to procure the
right of way, before such, financing was
commenced. He produced letters in sup
port of his statements.
Geo. M. Palmer remarked that M. G..
Willard had clean cut business propo-
sition.
Judge Plymat thought neither PROPOSE
ton had quite matured and it would be
best not to decide for either just then.
Mr.. Hixon wanted the meeting to 60
right ahead and determine which was the
better of the two propositions, and let
the other be dropped.
j. I. Bennett was in favor of the side
that would do something for North Man
kato.
II. P. Christensen spoke of donations
that Rapidan people would make for a
road that ran out there. He urged har-
mony and united effort. He wanted
Mankato people to act unitedly once in
their lives.
Geo. E. Brett did not see what more
was wanted than the clear cut Willard
contract.
| Mr.. Hixon thought it would be perfect
ly feasible for one company to build the
city line and the other the country line.
Mr.. Eberhart contended that this could
never be successfully worked.
DR.. Andrews spoke BRIEFLY in favor of
the Willard idea as preferable to that of
the Hance proposition, which had no writ
ten contract, but simply what Mr.. Dee
gan said as guarantee that something
would be done. The doctor read letter
from General Widell, warmly support
ing the position of the Willard people.
Mr.. Hixon took grave umbrage on
seeing the chairman thus take sides
and remarked that the letter sent by
General Widell was really directed at Mr.
Eixon personally, as there had been g
political controversy between these two
citizens, and the breach still existed. He
said too that he was call in" as far as
street railway in Mankato was con
} cerned.
DIR. Andrews fastened to explain thai
the letter came unsolicited by him. Mr.
Ekxon asked pardon for drawing TIT
;,,t1, tha ao,ntro.ra,.c.r that ..ra,