The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-01-24
Dispatches Give Detail ofAlIeged
Graft by Land Men.
In Capitol Beautiful Project
Now Before Congress-.
Low, Marshy Ground, Unfit For
Nations Structures.
From Thursdays Daily.


\ special dispatch to the Pioneer
Press says that the real estate men
of Washington, to whom good many
crimes against Uncle Sans pocket
have been charged in the past. are
alleged by Senator Nelson of Mime
sofa to be preparing to carve the big
gest melon they have ever plugged. 1t
is said to be a $50,OOO,OO0 one.
For years the project of the govern
ment of buying an immense tract of
business property south of Pennsyl-
vania avenue to perfect the mail from
the capitol to the Washington mon
ument mas been pressed upon congress.
This session there seemed an eN-
ccllent chance of its passage. Esti-
mates of something like $9,000,000
expense looked reasonable, and the
bill got out of committee, but on the
floor of the senate it has been viciously
attacked, the charge being made that
if it passes the government will be
held up for tremendous prices making
the tract cost not less than $780,
100000.
Grief Is Intense
The average representative who pays
rent in Washington is ready to be-
lieve almost anything about the local
bill is coming in for 'hard sledding."
OF course, there is intense grief
among the real estate spectators, and
Senator Nelson is the cause of it all
The senator is stubborriy blocking the
alleged steal, which has the approval
of many sincere people who are in
favor of the extensive plan for beau
tifying Washington. But more par
ticularly has it the approval and the
sturdy support of the vast company
of patriots in the capital who know
that Uncle Sam is fine old chap to
deal with when it comes to unloading
undesirable property.
For two days Senator Nelson had
been engaged in blocking the passage
of the bill. This measure would >au-
thorize the purchase of the great tract
of land lying south of Pennsylvania
avenue and between the business sec
ton of the city and the grounds of
the agricultural department.
Marshy and Worthless.
The stated object of this purchase
is to cover the tract with government
buildings. Mr.. Nelson has been max
ing study of the old maps and pic
lures of Washington and has dis
covered what he probably saw with
his own eyes twenty years ago when
he was in the lower house of congress,
that the tract of land in question is
one of the lowest in the city, was at
one time marsh, and i'm flood times
when the Potomac is at its highest
stage, water has been known to pour
over the lower section of the tract
and cross the wide avenue.
Might Do for a Park
For these reasons Mr. Nelson is
blocking the passage of the BILL He
denounces the site as unfit for public
buildings because it would cost, as he
has shown, about twice the value of
the land to obtain suitable founda-
tons for large building on the low
ground.
The attitude of the Minnesota SEN
ator is a rude shock to the sepcula-
tors who are striving to unload upon
the government the most undesirable
lands in the city, in section where
property is steadily depreciating in
value. The TRACT is suited for pub
Inc park and may some day be Sc
cured by the government for that pur-
pose.