The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-08-12
.T00MUCHkN0CK|N'
Wealthy Man About to Locate
in Mankat0, but Didn't.
Opposition to Paving by Leading
Citizens Changed His Mind.
Wants to Live in a Place Where
There's No lnjunctions.
Does Not Care to Invest Where
Such Condition Exists.
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Dally.
Reference has been made by The Free
Press to the bad effect that the agitation
against paving of streets has had upon
the reputation of the city, and the fear
has been expressed that it would result
in keeping desirable people away who
would like to locate here if the citizens
had the same amount of public spirit
and enterprise that those of smaller
cities all around have. 1t has turned out
that this was no idle fear
A gentleman of wealth from another
city has lately been considering the mat
ter of moving to Mankato and has had
some correspondence with one of the
leading citizens and bankers in reference
to the matter. He desired to come to
Mankato to make the city his home,
and wrote to the banker in reference to
some desirable residence property, say
ing that he wished either to buy or rent
or build. After locating here he would
engage in some business if good open
ing offered, but this was of secondary
Importance, as it was not necessary for
him to engage in business to make liv-
ing.
The Free Press is not permitted to
give the name of the gentleman, but he
is said to be a man of wealth and re-
fined tastes, who would have made
most desirable acquisition to the city
in every way. He would probably have
erected land maintained as fine resi-
dence as there is in the city today, and
taken leading part in affairs. He and
his family would have been liberal pat
rons Of the retail stores. The reason
why he concluded not to come to Man
kato are given in the following ex
tracts from letters just received from
him by the local gentleman with whom
ne was corresponding:
81 feel little afraid about taking
hold of property in Mankato on account
of the litigation and opposition to city
improvements. like to see streets grad
ed and paved and other work done which
| improves the looks as we'll as the good
of the city, and notice by your papers
that good many of your residents,
among them prominent business men, are
opposing such improvements, and also
that there is litigation over the paw
ing which has been done, which may cost
the city "a lot of money. I cannot under
stand why residents and especially prop
erty owners adjoining streets where
these improvements are being made
should kick upon the small amounts
of assessments which they have to pay.
1t seems to me the improvement is worth
ten times the cost. 1 certainly would
consider it that way if I owned the
property"
The last letter said, in part:
II must say, however, that the many
distractions laid in the way of public
improvements by numerous citizens of
your city has had a great deal to do
with my deciding adversely to my To-
eating there at present"
There can be no question that the
whole miserable injunction business has
given the city black eye, as gentlemen
coming to the city from other parts of
the country say that it is thrown up to
them constantly about Mankato not be-
ing able to do anything on account of
injunctions, and Manalato not paying it's
bills, and Mankato this and Mankato
that Such talk is calculated to do the
city infinite harm, and dull trade and
vacant store buildings is the legitimate
result.