The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-07-15
Has Already Placed Itself on Record
on This Question.
At a May Meeting Endorsed Action OF
the City Council.
Or. Andrews Introduces Resolutions
Today That Cause Discussion
An Effort to Be Made to Get Property
Owners together.
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
Paving of the business streets of tn,
city, as contemplated by the city coun
Gil, proposition that was endorsed by
the board of trade at the meeting o.
May 10, was again brought before thai
body at this mornings meeting by DR.
Andrews, who introduced the following
resolutions:
'Mankato justly has the reputation Of
having one of the most beautiful situa
ions in Minnesota, nestled as it is be-
tween the wooded hills and at the con.
fiuence of the Blue Earth and Minnesota
rivers.
"The city has already passed the semi
centennial mile-post, and the generation
that founded and populated the city first,
now sleep the sleep that knows no wax
ing. The reins of the city government
and the business are in new hands. A
commendable effort is being made by
the more enterprising citizens to secure
better freight rates, to induce the loca-
ton of manufactures, to bring about
the building of an electric street rail-
way, and last, but not least, to secure
permanent and economical street i'm
provements. Many thousands of dol
lars have been spent on Front street for
temporary and ill-advised improvements
and these have been paid for out of the
city treasury. Many of our citizens
stand ready to contribute literally to a
road fund for the improvement of the
country roads when feasible plan shall
have been consummated; and yet some
of our country roads are today in bet
ter condition than the principal business
streets of Mankato. Commendable ac-
ton has been taken by the city council
and board of public works looking to the
paving of Front and jackson streets.
Many of our leading citizens and bust
ness men have protested, filed an injunc-
ton, and precipitated law suit which
will involve the city in needless expense
and injure the reputation abroad of the
metropolis of southwestern Minnesota,
therefore,
Resolved, By the board of trade of
the city of Mankato that we deeply re-
greet this action upon the part of some
of our business men in thus stopping
the wheels of progress in city improve
ment.
Resolved, That we most heartily
commend the action of the city coun-
Gil in their efforts to make this much
needed improvement.
Resolved, That we express the hope
that the city council will stand pat, and
use every legal effort to cause Front and
jackson streets to be paved during the
present season, and to this end we pledge
our hearty support and cooperation.
Resolved, That we as tax payers and
citizens enter most earnest protest
against further temporary and useless
improvement of Front street at the ex-
pense of the city government"
NJ. G. Willard thought it best to lay
the matter over to another meeting. 1t
would be better to do this, than to pro-
coed arbitrarily. The property owners
should be given hearing at some kind
of public meeting. Some wanted brick
and some wanted asphalt. 1t would be
best to let them get their ideas to TO-
Gus, if possible.
Carl Dice spoke on the proposition with
very much the same sentiments as Mr..
Willard. While he was heartily in favor
of getting Front street paved, instead of
allowing it to remain in such state as
made quagmire of it in rainy weather,
and a continual expense to the city as a
whole, he thought the owners should
have hearing. 1t might be possible to
get them together.
On Mr.. Wizards motion, action on the
resolutions was postponed until the next
meeting of the board.
Mr.. Dice offered his resignation as
member of the board, saying that he
could not get around to the meetings,
under his present circumstances. The
resignation was regretfully accepted.
Secretary Taylor, on behalf of the
committee appointed to solicit funds for
the entertainment of the normal school
students, reported that he had been in
formed by John c. Wise that neither
Mr.. Wise nor Geo. E. Brett was at pres
ent able to solicit POUNDS for the purpose
A motion was carried empowering Mr..
Brett and Mr.. Wise to appoint two as
sistants in this work.
DR.. Andrews reported that he and G. H.
Saulpaugh had drawn up a subscription
paper for the good roads fund, and had
headed the list with their own names.
They had learned, however, that the
Business Mems association was prac-
tically doing the same thing, and the
board of trade committee did not wish to
cover the same territory that the asso-
citation was covering. There the matter
rested at present.
Dr. Andrews went on to say that he
did not think it advisable to have two
commercial bodies in the city, both try
ing to do the same things. More effec-
tive work could be done by far with only
one.
1t was suggested that the meetings of