The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-08-05
Mr.. H|X0N HAS QUIT
He Throws Up the Electric
Railway Deal.
Does Not Care to Assume I
More Burdens.
~
Still Thinks His Proposition the
Better of Two.
Discusses Last Nights Meeting
Voted Down.
From Thursdays Daily.

From thursdays Dally.
W. L. Hixon, when asked as to last
nights proceedings gave out the follow
ing statement:
81 can only speak for myself when
say that am through. 1t is now up to
the other side and the burden is put
upon them of making good their prom
Uses and statements at the meeting. Per-
sonally, I consider their alleged pre-
liminary or contingent contract as
worthless. I do not claim to be law
yer, but I am somewhat familiar with
commercial law and don't believe dam
ages could be collected or even determin-
ed under such contract in case it is not
made good and some of our best attor-
neys agree as to that. Nothwithstand-
ing bond promise by us, we were voted
down, it having been claimed that the
burden of bond would fall on the local
promoters. They overlooked the fact
that bond would be no burden if their
hackers show good faith and if they have
the confidence in them and their con-
contract that they expressed. Many of
those who favored us were crowded on
the stairs and out on the street, un-
able to get in or the vote might have
been different. The other side voted down
the resolution that both sides agree to
abide by the decision of the meeting and
that the one loosing should not apply for
a franchise and instead passed motion
recommending the council to grant
franchise to their side, thus leaving the
field open for further competition. So
far as am concerned as I stated, l am
through and will take no advantage of
such failure. 1t seems that the meet
ing desired further delay in building the
road and they will get it. In my judy
ment we had the best of the two prop
ositions from business mans stand
point, though perhaps not from the
standpoint of the lawyers and doctors
arrayed against us. I don't believe the
deal will go through. I hope for the
good of all that it will, but just as
strong contracts as theirs have before
this amounted to nothing.
''We offered to turn over our subscrip-
ton sheets with the consent of the sub
scribers if we did not show results in
six weeks and then offered bond. The
people have been insisting on quick ac-
ton and bond and when they had
chance to get both they refuse them
which only goes to show that the other
side was out to win regardless of its
merits. Several things of a personal
nature and of the peanut politics vari-
ETY. were injected into the proceedings
which of course had no weight. 1 real
ly feel relieved that the burden of Sc
curing us street railway line is on
the other fellows shoulders. There is
losts of hard work, worry and criticism
in store for them if past experience
counts for anything. I do not consider
this personal defeat"
Hance Still In. It.
Mr.. Hance is still in the field and will
request the council to grant him fran
chise for an electric line.
Today Mr.. Hance exhibited a letter
from Mr.. Deegan, in which it was stated
that the Minnesota Central railroad peo-
pie will be in Philadelphia next Monday,
and it is expected that they will make
arrangements with Lopez & Co. to Sc
cure the money with which to build the
north and south road.
The main contract for the Meyersdale
& Salisbury railroad, involving an ex-
penditure of 100000, has just been
awarded to Deegan & Co.
In another letter to Mr.. Hance, Dee
gan states that he has became greatly
interested in the Mankato electric rail-
way deal, and regards himself as the
city's saving angel.