The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-07-20
Commercial Club Gives the
Project Big Boost.
r - .eGt f3sA ssnt4f
SOME PLAIN TALK Is MADE.
Number Of Nice Subscriptions for the
Trolley Proposition Rsesisss
at the Meeting.
From Tuesdays Daily

From Tuesdays Daily =
The Mankato Commercial club last
NIGHT woke to the realization that
something more is expected OF it than
words. Heretofore it has been long on
oratorv and short on accomplishments,
but it took a new tack last night, and
held the most interesting meeting that
il has yet held. Such meetings would
result in boosting MankatO ahead rap
idly.
The meeting opened with no better
promise than other meetings. AT $3.50
o'clock there was no quorum, but Presl-
dent Hixon started matters moving
without one. He took occasion to eX-
press his disappointment with the club.
He said that he was very much disap-
pointed with the lack of support which
the club was receiving from the business
interests of the city. He had been CIV
en- to understand that it would have
better support than similar organizations
in Mankato had received in the past,
but it was discouraging when less than
twenty five out of a membership OF 29O
will attend the meetings.
The sereet railway matter was the
most important one considered, and the
action of the club last night, if sus-
tanned by equal activity throughout the
week. will insure the building of the car
line.
Letter From Railway Men.
Secretary Spencer read lengthy let
ter from the four local promoters OF the
road They said that they, had not
expected that month would be requir-
ed to raise less than half of the small
amount of money asked for. This was
a matter of greater Importance than
ANYTHING that the club could take up.
Unless it carries through this project
it was not to be expected that it could
accomplish in the future those things
that it was organized for. The project
,ors of the street railway enterprise had
expected better support. The thirty
days time that had been secured from
the eastern parties will expire July Is,
and after that they cannot be he'd with
out their consent. They had declined to
grant thirty day extension, but had
finally granted an extension until Sat
urday, July 81, beyond which they de-
clined to hold the matter open. Money is
getting tighter in the east and they do
not see the local support here that they
expected. The responsibility for the fail
ure of the enterprise would rest upon
the shoulders of those who can afford to
subscribe toward it but do not do SO,
and not on the eastern interests or on
the local promoters. If the latter do
anything after July 81 it will be with
other parties than the ones that they
now have a contract with, which would
mean that negotiations would all have
to be begun over again. If our own resi-
dents lack faith in the enterprise they
could hardly expect others to put in
their money.
Secretary Spencer said that the So
Letting committee, or rather such por-
ton of it as did any work, had worked
hard up to last week. Seventy four
people had refused to subscribe, and
others have taken the matter under ad-
visement As far as he was concerned
he was at the end of the rope and did
not know what to do. He would like
to have an efficient committee to assist
in getting the subscription of 100 men
for 500 each He knew where the last
$l,lOO necessary to make the matter a
go could be secured
Project at Critical Stage.
President Hixon said that the street
railway project was at the critical stage.
There is something in the air that pre-
vents the raising of the money, which
is the least amount ever asked for a
street railway project. 1t was not a
case this time of the eastern people or
the local promoters falling down. 1t
was only a question of whether the To-
cal people want it. If they don't, they
don't have to take it. Anyone who turns
down the proposition is working against
his own interests. No one is obliged to
put up any money until the road is in
operation.
George E. Brett denied report that
he was opposed to the road On the
other hand, he was heartily in favor of
it. He had spent over 5000 in trying to
get a road for Mankato, and if Others
would do what he had done there
would be no trouble about getting it.
Nevertheless, he was willing to give to-
ward this enterprise, as he thought that
car line would be a wonderful benefit
to the city. The money could be raised
if all would pull together. 1t would be
money well invested even if donated.
President Hixon said that the club