The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-05-08

Two of the trailers and one of the
box cars purchas by the Mankato
Electric Traction company arrived III
the city Saturday night, and the trail
ers were. put into commission yester-
day, being attached to two of the cars
that were put in operation Friday.
The box is being fitted upon the
trucks that previously arrived, and
motors are being put in, and as soon
as the car is complete it will be put
into commission on the Fifth, Clark
and Pleasant street branch. 1t is eX-
pected that this will be about We'd
nesday. The other trailer and the
other box are expected at any time.
Yesterday was as good day or bet
ter than Friday, for the weather was
delightful and thousands of people
patronized the cars. In the afternoon
and evening every car was filled to its
capacity. There never were SO many
park visitors on Sunday before.
Getting Broken In.
The motormen and conductors are
performing their duties like veterans.
and are deserving of a great deal of
credit. They are gentlemanly and good
natured in spite of the trying duties
to which they have been subjected at
the very beginning of their service.
The first day there was some friction
about the coupons. Some of the old
coupons were out that were non trans
ferable, and when the new ones were
presented by persons not holding the
books the conductors at first demurred
about taking them, but there will be
no more trouble about these coupons.
The books that were sold to the mer-
chants contain coupons which they
have passed out to customers. and this
is perfectly proper, as the coupons are
transferable. In this way the mer-
chants are enabled to extend cour
tesies to their customers.
1t is rather remarkable that no run
aways have yet been started since
the cars have started to run regularly.
1t was thought that farmers teams
| would make trouble, but they do not
seem to mind the cars any more than
automobiles. Two dogs have been
killed, but this happened before Fri
day. When the tenders are placed on
! the cars, accidents of this kind will
not be frequent.
People ought to get off the cars the
proper way, facing toward the front OF
the cars. 1t is strange that many
people, who ought to know better, get
off the cars facing the rear, which
puts them in position to be easily
thrown if there is any motion on the
part of the cars. y:
Cut OFF Proposed.
There is talk of the street railway
company building cut off to join the
| end of the Pleasant street line with
! the Front street line, by running down
| either Willard or Marshall streets. The
distance is but three blocks, aud the
cut off would not be expensive, and
would make it much more convenient
for persons along the residence line to
60 to the park, as they would not
have to be taken back to the Saul
paugh corner and then transferred to
| another car, with lunch baskets and
other equipments. 1t is said that the
company is contemplating building this
section the present year, in which
| event two cars could be operated on
the residence line, from the park to
the Saulpaugh corner, passing each
other.
Interurban Line East
General Superintendent Lightfoot is
convinced that an interurban line
must follow shortly, so as to make
the city line profitable. In this con-
nection, John C.. Noe, who has given
the matter great deal of study, has
some good ideas. He believes that a
line to st. Peter would not afford
| near the amount of business that one
to Faribaut would. His idea is that
an interurban line ought to be built
east, to Eagle Lake, st. Clair, and to
Faribault, touching the villages and
lakes en- route, and connecting with
the Dan Patch line This would con-
meet up the Alphabet road with Man.
kato and open the lake resorts.
The number of fares collected Fri
day last, the opening day, was $780,
The figure for yesterday was greater,
but the exact number was not known
this afternoon.
The second enclosed car has come as
far as Waseca, and is being held there
because the car on which it is coming
has given out. 1t is expected in to.
night. The last of the traiIers is also
nh hn