The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-10-19
MANKAT0; ITS GROWTH
DEPENDS VERY LARGELY
on BETTER FREIGHT RATE
[Continued From Page Two.l


Naturally he would expect the local
company to be supported and the money
saved could be put into SPOT and
used to encourage the location of fac
tories in Mankato.
w. w. Smith maintained that if the
Citizens Telephone company had no
competition it would not give any bet
ter service than what was experienced
prior to it's entrance into the field. Mr..
Smith urged the people to pull together,
but said that if person could buy
cheaper from catalogue house it was
his duty to do so.
At this juncture C. n. Andrews hand
ed the meeting some information. He
said that gallon of whisky could be
purchased cheaper from catalogue
house than it could from local dealers.
Everybody sat up and took notice i'm
mediately.
w. D. Wizards Views.
w. D. Willard referred to the large
amount of money that has gone out of
Mankato. He attributed this to the fact
that someone has been able to demon
state that more money could be made
elsewhere. eve are not specialists and
do not know what factories should be
started here. Consequently nothing is
being done. The Commercial club should
be the instrument through which this
should be DONE" NIankato had tile
factory once. 1t did not succeed. Pos
sibly it was tarted before its time. 1t
may be that the right kind of clay is
not to be found here for the manu-
facture of tile. Mr. Pay could enlight-
en- the Commercial club on that point.
| Dr. Schmauss thought Mankato was
supplied with Commercial club that
would bring to pass anything that was
desired. Everybody should belong to
the Commercial club and all should take
ali interest in its meetings. At least
those who do the work should be en-
couraged. The doctor discussed freight
rates and the catalogue houses.
When called on for remarks j. I'll.
/ Spencer, secretary of the Commercial
club, stated that She was there to get
some pointers. He had learned through
investigation that other towns that had
accomplish something, did it by adver-
Using extensively. A good live mem
bership in the Commercial club would
accomplish ,results. Spokane and other
towns are offering cash bonuses to fac
tories. ~
Need Sinews of War.
President W. L. Hixon of the Com
mercial club was called on. He had lis
tened with interest to the expressions
of those who preceded him. In his opin-
ion the whole matter could be sumed
up in one way-what can be done to-
ward raising funds to carry OH the work
of the Commercial club? The organi-
cation has no sinews of war. A city
government cannot be carried on with
out money. No condition of things can
exist without money.
Mr.. Hixon said there were six differ
ent proposition before the Commercial
club that do not call for bonuses, but
stock must be subscribed for. Members
will have an opportunity to invest in
one of these propositions shortly.
''There is something the matter with
Mankato," declared Mr.. Hixon. "We
cannot hope to accomplish results if the
club members do not take a more active
interest in the organization" Mr.. Hixon
ventured the assertion that he could
name over the members who had at
tended the meetings of the past and al
so those who would be present at the
next meeting of the club. A quorum
calls for twenty-five members. The
membership is now more than 300. If
the members do not attend the meet
ings what can be expected in the way of
accomplishment?
Mr. Hixon contended that the way
to lower taxes is to build up the city,
The rate must be lowered if municipal
affairs are honestly administered. The
tax rate is an impeachment to securing
factories. The freight rate on coal is
excessively high. The railroad facilities
are good and the high rate is not SO bad
as the discrimination to which this city
is subjected.
If Mankato Had An Equal Show?
If all towns were paying an equal
rate Mankato would stand an equal
show. One great trouble Mankato
is not located on a ST. Paul
Chicago line. Yet with the proper spir,
it Mankato could overcome all these dis
advantages. Unless the people pull to-
gether and show more spirit IN the
work of town building there is no hope
of accomplishing lasting results for
Mankato. The rates to st. Paul are reg
ulated by the water route. If the Min
nesota river was navigable stream
Mankato would be a much more impor-
tant town. If the same amount of
money was spent to make the Mime
80 ,,,o4o. $780, {boro has DpQ11 fn