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


ssition now pending is not consummated,
| would suggest that the $4,000 sub
scribed be made a permanent offer for n
ear line and that we advertise the
fact.
AT the present time, | am sorry to
say. there is Il feeling of encouragement
and lack of interest among the members
of the Commercial club. This, | am
sure, grows out of mistaken idea as to
what we have right to expect from
the efforts made by the club. Many seem
to have thought that all that was neces-
sary was to write to factories and they
would hurry to Mankato Others af-
feet to believe that when they offer to
come here, providing we take 100000
worth of stock, we should show our
patriotism by subscribing. To my
mind, in most cases this would be mis-
guided loyalty, and would very pos
sibly end in financial disaster, while
admit that there may be such cases of
which we should avail ourselves.
What Shall the Club Do?
You ask me, what Shall the Com
mercial Club Do for Mankato," and l
answer. 1t should maintain a commit
tee on freight rates that will move
heaven and earth to get Il square deal
for Mankato and southern Minnesota.
1t can and it should bring about the
building of street car line. 1t should
advertise Mankato extensively, continu
ally and intelligently. 1t should bring
in here conventions, fairs and eXcur-
sions, and look after the train service
at all times. 1t should establish here a
cattle market, grain market, and build
a market place and hold market days.
1t should look after city ordinances, and
see that the city fathers do all possible
to help the town, and pass no ordi-
nances that will cripple us or throw
away valuable franchises We probably
should have a new city hall, and GER
tainly more pavement. A second bridge
should span the Minnesota, and the bad
railroad crossing, at the present bridge,
should be remedied, for many people,
especially from the country, are afraid
to cross there. 1t should demand a
cheap electrical power from the Man
kato Gas & Electric Light company
1t should work with other organiza-
tions for the health and beauty of our
city. We have already a reputation
among towns of the northwest for our
many improvements, and for being an
exceptional fine home town. The same
spirit of improvement is spreading to
the country side, and the good roads
agitation is bearing fruit. Road i'm
provements are marked these last two
years, and will continue. The prospect
of trolley line grows brighter and
now that the railroads can no longer
turn a deaf ear to the demands of the
people for a square deal. / feel that
Mankato is on the verge of claiming
her birthright, and will repeat the his
tory of the best towns of Iowa that in
the last few years have grown from
what we are to substantial cities of 30
600 people.
No Lack of Public Spirit.
| make the assertion that there is no
lack of public spirit in Mankato, and if
the Commercial club achieves nothing
more in the remaining portion of its
first year of existence, it has done well.
1t took public spirit TO raise $4,000 to
put Gen. Widell on his feet. 1t took
public spirit for a few people to raise
$1,000 for new park in the north end
of the city. 1t took public spirit to
raise $4,000 to retain the Creamery
Package company, and give it a better
site. 1t took public spirit to organize
the Mankato fair, which | am confident
will be the greatest county fair in the
state. 1t took public spirit, of very
generous proportions, to raise $4,000
for street car proposition. 1t takes a
great deal of public spirit to pay the
high taxes which burden us, and vet
willingly to push doggedly on putting
down more pavement and building miles
and miles of cement sidewalk and curb
and gutter. Does anyone doubt these
Improvements! Does anyone doubt that
we are making Mankato, if indeed we
have not done SO already, the most i'm
proved town of its size, and the most.
beautiful place to live in the state?
You have left it too late gentlemen, to
plead encouragement. Even twelve
months ago there may have been some
excuse for you, but with this long list
of achievements. all of which are due
directly or indirectly to the effort of
the Commercial club, you cannot but
agree that our town has made a good
start for a greater Mankato.
At the conclusion of the reading OF
the paper DR.. Webster was given an en-
thusiastic applause.
c. n. Andrews explained that the
topic had been selected by the Social
Science club several weeks ago and that
. III 10 thn line