The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-10-19

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factories They prefer to build in the
larger cities. Labor goes to those places
to seek employment. ST. Paul and Min
neapolis are without competition on the
west and none as far south as Cedar
Rapids in Iowa. Thus they have been
given an opportunity to extend their
trading territory. They have grown up
at the expense of the towns in Mime
sofa.
Iowa land is no more fertile than
Minnesota land, yet the average profit
double what it is from that in Mime
sofa. The difference in the freight rates
of the two states is the cause. Manka.
to must to a large extent depend upon
the farmers for its trade. Tie more
money the farmers have to spend list
that much more will Mankato prospe-
In Iowa the farmers have double the
amount of money to spend than the
farmers of Minnesota.
Grilled the Railroad Commission.
The Minnesota railroad commission
during the last fifteen or stwenUy years
has not been an active body, but of late
he was in hopes that something will be
done to bring about an adjustment of
rates. The only way to bring about an
adjustment of rates is to el2ct men to
| the commission and to the legislature
who stand right on rate legislation. I'm
| til Mankato secures a readjustmenU Of
rates the town will not grow. Mankato
must have factories that will Give en-
! ployment to labor, and the way TO get
the factories is to obtain proper rates
Mr.. Currier believed in displaying more
patriotism toward Mankato. People should
stand by home institutions. He referred
to the cut that has been made in tcle-
phone rates since the formation and OPP
Grafton of the local telephone company.
The local company should be patronized
and men encouraged to put their money
$40 iome concern:
| The question of taxes is al impor-
! tant one, said Mr.. Currier 1t is Sc
| rious one. The rate next year will be
So mills and the rate is likely to go
higher. The rate is higher now on city
property and farm lands than it was
twenty-five years ago. GLOW much
more would city property sell for now
under the. hammer than it did tweaty
five years ago." asked Mr.. Curricr.
Double" said someone in the hall.
Mr.. Currier expressed his doubts.
| Z. Ro2enberger emphasized the imror-
lance of patronizing home made pro-
ducts If home people do not patronizc
home products it is serious dra wback
to the home industries. Mankato con-
sumers should call for Mankato pro.
ducts. Mr.. Rosenberger advocated the
organization of a company that would
manufacture automobiles. Men should
be given employment and these men
should buy the goods made in Mankato.
Advantages From Drainage.
w. A. Funk said that Mankato de-
ponds largely upon the country tribu-
tary to it.. This is a fine country as he
Lad had an opportunity to observe dnr-
ing the past few months, but it could
be improved and more land cultivated
if properly drained, and he knew of no
better system than that of filing. IN
Illinois the land has advanced to a point
as high as $40 an acre and tilirg has
had much to do with the increase in
valuation. Better crops are raised Much
more of Blue Earth county's land could
be cultivated if drained. This would re-
suit in growing towns and if the other
towns grow Mankato is sure to grow
also. Mr.. Funk felt that Mankato has
not great deal of influence over the
farming community.
Mr.. Funk was opposed to paying bon
uses to factories, for in most instances
a. poor cOHCeTu Is SccuTcu ttHu us illC
in the community is short and unenvi-
able. He would favor the giving of
site to a desirable industry. He was
proud of the patronage accorded the
Citizens Telephone company, but scored
the men who urged its organization and
then turned about and negotiated for
phones from rival concern on the
promise of free residente phones.
Another speaker who urged upon all
to patronize home industries was DR..
j. W. Andrews. He has lived here
twenty three years and had never
bought anything out of town that he
could buy in Mankato. He was con-
WINGED that goods are sold as cheap in
Mankato as they are in the larger cities.
He had priced articles at home and else
where and knew what he was talking
about.
Doctor Is Optimistic.
DIR. Andrews is optimistic as to the
future of this beautiful city. If there
is any drawback it is the freight rate.
But the people have the remedy in their