The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-08-10
Council Assists i'm Buying IL
Factory Site.
HELP OUT THE TUB PLANT.
An Old Building on South Front Street
Is Condemned; Other Business
Byth City Dads.


action on the request of the Commercial
chb committee on tub factory site that
il make up the deficiency of $1,000 III
the purchase price of the CID site. This
enables General Manager Higgs' propo-
sition to be accepted and he cannot do
otherwise than move the factory to the
new site and build new factory to be
retained in Mankato indefinitely. This
will relieve the residence district on Van
Brunt street of an eye sore, and will be
a great benefit to that part of the city.
At the same time the Creamery Package
Manufacturing company will benefit
greatly by having a modern plant located
on railroad track. A large number OF
interested spectators attended the meet
ing until this was disposed of.
w. ID. Willard addressed the council
on behalf of the committee He outlin-
ed what negotiations the Commercial
club had had with General Manager
Higgs of the Creamery Package Manu-
featuring Co. He said that other towns
had gotten busy and were trying to get
the tub factory away from Mankato.
He thought that there was danger of los
inc the factory. C. p. Cooper, the To-
cal manager, lives i'll Minneapolis, and
favors that location for the plant Twen-
ty gentlemen have subscribed $3.50 each,
raising $4,000 toward buying the present
site. Property owners have raised $500
for the new site. 1t was felt that the
balance of the $4,000 should be paid by
the city at large, which is reasonable.
The council was therefore asked to APP,
propriate 81 900. Seventeen years ago,
when the factory burned, the council vOt-
ed ID bonus of $4,000 to keep it in Man
kato. Since then more than half mil
lion dollars has been paid out i'll wages
by the company, and the city has receiv-
ed back from it in taxes us much as it
paid out as bonus. j. b. RObb states
that if the factory is rebuilt on a new
location it will be built in the latest and
most approved plan, and will doubtless
employ more labor than heretofore 1t
will be the finest factory owned by the
company.
John Nyquist said that the people liv-
ing in the neighborhood are mostly poor,
as they bought lots there because they
were cheap. He thought $500 could be
raised in the neighborhood to buy the
new SITE
Aid. Heinze asked whether the 81 600
asked for would go toward building a
new plant or toward buying the old
plant. The council would want to know
whether it is expected to appropriate
money to help people buy property and
then the tub factory go elsewhere.
Would Keep Factory Here.
bonus to keep the plant in Mankato
The company would be bound by con-
tract to rebuild in Mankato before its
old plant was purchased. The question
of the councils authority to give bon
us has been raised. Perhaps there is no
direct authority, but the council seven
teen years ago had no authority to give
$4,000, but it was broad enough to do it
anyway. The council had no authirity
to donate to the San Francisco sufferers
but it did. The history of the federal
government contains striking instances
where actions have been taken, for the
public good, without legal authority
perhaps General Manager Higgs will
be in the city Tuesday next to close up
the deal.
Mr.. Nyquist stated that it had been
impossible to get more than three to
sign for $500. BY signing for $3.50 each
they expect loss of $50 each. 1t is
thought that 81, 900 will be lost in handl-
ing the old site.
Aid. Heinze said that there is no
money in the city treasury for the puri
pose, but he would favor borrowing the
amount. The expenditure will come
back i'll taxes. This statement was
greeted with applause.
Aid. Atchison moved that $1,000 be
appropriated for the purpose.
Aid. Hampl asked what site had been
agreed upon. He would not want to
vote before he knew.
Mr.. Willard said that two sites in the
north part of the city and one in the
south part are under consideration. The
matter would have to be left to Mr..
Riggs to decide. Mr.. Cooper had seen
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