The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-07-01
lshn N. Halls Plan to Induce In
dustries to Locate Here.
He Would Form an Association to Pur-
chase Building Sites.
Sell Structures to Manufacturers on
Instaliment Scheme.
From Tuesdays Daily.

Mankato was once more taken UP by the
board of trade at the regular meeting
held this morning.
Thomas Hughes remarked that he and
Thomas w. Hart, being committeeman
to whom the project of improving the
Belgrade road had been referred, had
some time ago made special trip across
the river and looked the ground over.
Some of the village people wanted to
have the road changed. Others seemed
to think there would not be much use
in it. Engineers Thompson and Haynes
had given their opinion that about half
the ascent could be saved by changing
the road as proposed so as to run up the
johnson gulch. Some of the officers
of Belgrade township had been inter
viewed in the matter and had said that
the township was badly in debt, and that
it would be hard to get the supervisors
to undertake the matter now. Such an
enterprise would cost in the neighbor-
hood of $1,000.
One abstacle, Mr.. Hughes went on to
say, would be the location of Mr.. John
sons quarry. The owner was inclined to
demand heavy damages for injury to
his quarry, if the road should be con-
structed as proposed.
Mr.. Hart remarked that several farm
ers of Nicollet county, who had read in
the newspapers about the matter being
agitated, had called upon him and want
ed to know how things were going on,
and how near the board was doing some
thing about it. The farmers of Belgrade
township were in favor of the proposed
route up the johnson quarry gulch. Most
of the villagers of North Mankato SEEM
ed to think itwould be better to go up
another ravine by way of the Hodapp
residence. They claimed this would make
a better road 1t was certainly more
round about one.
Mr.. Hughes said that as he recollect-
ed only Mr.. Hodapp expressed decided
preference for the route by the way of
his place, and he was an interested par
ty.
George Pond remarked that this was
one of the very best roads leading into
Mankato, as far as possibilities of trade
were concerned. At the same time it was
one of the very hardest roads by which
farmers had to come to Mankato.
NJ. G. Willard thought the farmers
would be willing to get to work at i'm
proving the road and changing the To-
cation to the johnson gulch, if the peo-
pie of the city would be willing to put in
$3.50 as a starter.
Mr.. Pand said he would give SIS to see
the road graded down as proposed.
On the motion of Mr.. Willard the mat
ter was left with the same committee
to which the project had been referred
before, with power to take such action
as the committee should deem advisable.
Mr.. Hart thought some means ought
to be devised for furnishing crushed rock
to the neighboring farmers, that these
farmers might carry it back in their
wagons, which they were now driving
home empty. Quite number of farmers
had told Mr.. Hart that they would be
glad to haul the rock with them on their
homeward trips and fix up the roads
about the city. The farmers would like
to have the stone at some central place
where they could go and get it and haul
it away.
On motion of Mr.. Hart the question
was referred to the committee on roads
and highways for consideration.
j. n. Hall preached plan for the
general growth and development OF the
city. The city he said was not growing
as it should. Other cities with far less
advantages were growing faster than
Mankato both in population and in
wealth and in business. There would be
a state census next year and its result
might be notifying. Industries had not
been planted in the cities as they should
be. All the big industries that the city
has now were running here twenty years
age. The city ought to be able to make
better showing for the last score OF
years.
Mr.. Hall said one great difficulty
about establishing manufactures here
was the want of experience on the part
of those who had the money. The PEG.
pie owned capital enough, but did not
have the necessary knowledge. At the
same time, many outside industries
would be glad to locate here, were /,
not for the difficulty of procuring suit
able sites. He proposed that local people
should form a corporation, which should
buy up suitable sites for factories, ano
should build factories for concerns thai
wished to rent them. The rent could bt
made very moderate. The sites ano
buildings might be sold on the install
ment plan to manufacturing companies
after these companies had found TIT
sites profitable.
Mr.. Halls plan was referred to tn
committee on manufactures.
John A. White remarked that Mankat'
would make splendid point for jobbin'
business along the implement line. Sucl
enterprises do not require any great out