The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-05-27
Admired BY All Persons Who Visit
the Famous Resort.
Place Is New CARRIED in Its Most
Bewi.ehing Attire.
Visitors Were EHtranced With lovli.
ness Of Surroundings.
Plans For the re.-.Superintendeni
Biake's Anniversary.

Saturday afternoons field meet held
at Sibley park between the various high
schools of large part of southern Min.
nesota seemed almost like celebration
of the tenth anniversary of the superin-
tendency of Mr.. Blake. 1t was indeed
ten years ago, May 81, that he took
charge of the place, which he found in a
wild state of nature.
Intense pride must certainly have been
the feeling of every loyal Mankato citi-
zen as he entered the park and walked
, over towards the grand stand around
which the contest was held. The whole
center field with its surrounding race
. track and roadway, lies at the southern
side of the park and occupies about one
sixth of its area The entire reserva-
ton, lying at the junction of the Min
nesotas ,and Blue Earth rivers, consists
, of sixty eight acres. Most people prefer
the entrance at the southeast corner
over the North Western and Omaha
tracks. Here the gates are seldom clos
ed. The railroad authorities have pro-
vided for the safety of all who traverse
this crossing by means of gong system
The weight of an approaching train on
the track, coming from either direction
when. at distance of 1000 feet, will
close an electric circuit, and set gong
, to ringing at the crossing. This gong
F, continues to ring until the train has
passed. Any track vehicle, even a hand
car, is heavy enough to set this bel
to ringing.
AS one enters the park at this gate
the long level stretch of land at the
southerly end of the park can be seen to
be occupied for the most part by the
race track and center field, though there
is very considerable space on the same
level all around these. All this space
, except what is taken up by the road
i way, is covered with short new grass
Flower beds and young trees here and
there show what the park will become
/ in future years. In full bloom now are
the bleeding hearts, the red, yellow and
white tulips, the border pinks, the Ice
land peoples, and the pansies. AL
along the eastern fence of the park is q
row of young boxelders and elms, al
suitable intervals. Perpendicular to thi:
line, and extending along the southern
boundary, is double row of small elms
with newly planted arbor vitae be-
i tween each two in the same row. The
whole presents very, neat, pretty and
promising appearance.
| A short space beyond the race track
towards the north lies the most pict
uresque feature of Sibley park, the bluff
Following the roadway to the easterly
end of this bluff, one comes upon the
new wooden steps, that were just com
i pleted yesterday, all but the painting
These steps traverse an oblique distance
of little over 100 feet. They are foul
| feet wide and are divided midway by
landing, twelve feet square, with seats
around it. The base of the entire flight
is to be painted red, the posts white and
the banisters blue. To give stability and
permanency to the steps, the earth is
held in place on each side by stone
wall, joined with the big wall that pro
tects the road below, while the space
under the steps if tagged.
! On the north side of the bluff, along
the roadway are planted young elms
bass woods, hard naples and hackberries
Passing along this road to the west, one
soon comes to place where the bluff re-
cedes, leaving broad space of ground
well shaded, not only by the bluff itself
but also by whole trees, mostly bass
woods and elms. Here is indeed a most
cosy little retreat, and Superintendent
Blake made no mistake in fitting this up
for an eating ground. There are tables
and benches enough to seat vast num-
Der all at once. Hotel de Sibley, lit
tie two room house, is fitted up with a
stove, tables, and shelves. Superinten-
dent Blake keeps the key, but any re-
sponsible person, by applying to him, can
have the use of this convenient little
place, to prepare meal.
1t hardly ever, if indeed it ever hap
pens that a crowd of people eat here
without some children with them, and
therefore a number of excellent wooden
swings have been provided to help the
little ones have good time, and the old
folks to have lots of fun showing the
little ones how to swing, as if the young
ones didn't know how. Here too is the
place where the public speakers usually
hold forth, from rostrum erected each
time for the occasion. A well on these
grounds furnishes a constant supply of
excellent water.
A few rods off to the northwest one
may look across the wide deposits of
sand and gravel, to the confluence of the
waters of the Blue Earth and Minnese-
ia. This is one of the best fishing places
that Mankato people can handily and con-
veniently reach. Mr.. and Mrs. William
Polchow and William Enfield spent a
few hours fishing just below the junction
Thursday and caught thirty fine pike.
The water must go down two feet lower
before the fishing will be what it should.