The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-07-06
Signers Coming in Slowly; Will
Plan Fall Down:
HEAR NO NEWS FROM E, L. lobe
Minnsopa Park Matter Mentioned,
Tub Factory Site and Other Mat
tiers Discussed Somewhat

The members of the Commercial clut
did not fall over themselves to turn out
to the meeting last night, although spe
cially urged to do so on account of the
street railway matter. What causes
their apathy on this subject is something
beyond conjecture. For the first time
since the club organized it was neces
sary for the secretary to 60 out on the
street and scour around in an effort to
get enough members in to make quor-
UNI, and it was ten minutes before nine
when enough were on hand to make a
quorum In the absence of President
Hixon, Vice President Currier presided
1t was so late that the reading of the
minutes of the previous meeting was
dispensed with.
Secretary Spencer reported that $ll45O
had been raised by the committee that
was appointed to solicit funds for the
state summer school, On his motion this
sum was turned over to President c. HI.
Cooper to handle.
ii. p. Christensen reported that S. ID.
Works had received letter from Gen
4 III bo
if the citizens would take the present
location of the tub factory and present
an acre of ground for a new location the
factory, would be moved. - Mr.. Christen-
sen thought $4,000 high price for the
property, and more than anyone would
give for it. There are five sixty-six foot
lots and one fifty foot lot.
Secretary Spencer said that President
HiXon had written to Contractor f. L.
Tobie, asking him to meet with the
Commercial club, but had received no
reply. Evidently Mr.. Tobie had turned
Mr.. Hixon's letter over to an Albert Lea
paper, which had roasted the club pref
ty hard.
DR.. Schmauss moved that the whole
matter be laid on the table until there
are further developments, and this was
carried
Secretary Spencer reported for the
street car committee that it had raised
about $4,000 by hard work. The COM
mittee would like to get some boosters
to help it. All who had signed the lists
of the other street ear companies had
cut their subscriptions from a fifth to a
half or had refused to subscribe at all.
A street car line is needed, and until
one is secured the city cannot get fac
tories.
Mr.. Christensen said that he was sur
prised to see so few people present at
the meeting, whereas there ought not to
be standing room left. The street car
proposition was the most important
proposition before the people today. It
would be calamity if the city did not
get it, as the city will be doomed. 1t
will be worth four times the amount
that the people are asked to subscribe.
He hoped that the citizens at large
would look at it in the right light and
see that the city gets the line.
Mr.. Currier thought that the promo
tiers had made an error in the way that
they had presented the matter to the
public. Many had asked why they did
not put up any money, but he had been
told by them that they are to put up
$4,000. He was disappointed with the
reception that the proposition had re-
ceived. Mr.. Currier proceeded to give the
citizens some pretty plain talk as to the
future of the city unless something is
done to get a street car line. reduced
freight rates and few other things, the
lack of which. is preventing the proper
growth of the city.
Mr.. Christensen followed along the
same line. He said that electric lines
running out to neighboring towns in all
directions are needed to make a city.
There would then be good prospect for
getting factories and reduced freight
rates.
MIR. Spencer said that the committee
had not nyaSSpd much hollow Mo;u
street. The exact amount that it had
raised was $1,000, and of this there
were fiftyfour 500 subscriptions and
only a dozen larger subscriptions. II
was uphill work and discouraging Here