The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-08-07
Million Dollar Union Depot One
OF the Presents for City
This Year.
Crops On Increase Throughout
The Northwest; Letter to
The Devil.
Especial to The Free Press.l

st. Paul, Aug. 5.-It has been def
nitely decided by the business men
of st. Paul to keep the street decora-
tions that were used for the Shriner's
convention, for state fair week This
will give the people who visit st.
Paul an opportunity to see an electrical
street display that has never before
been equalled. On all the downtown
streets are arches and clusters of
multi-colored lights. Every few feet
are ornamental posts OH which are
some unique electrical display. The
merchants of the city have also de-
cided not to keep their stores open
at night during state fair week. This
is done with the idea of not interfering
i'll any way with the crowds at the
state fair.
New Union Depot.
Within a year st. Paul will have a
new million dollar union depot. The
matter has been hanging fire for the
past five years but it now appears
that construction will be started on
the new building in very short time.
1t was thought for time that the
railroads did not wish to build a new
depot for st. Paul Then the strin-
gency and the falling off of railroad
receipts set in, and there was no
chance for the new building. The only
matter that now stands in the way of
the new building is a trackage plan
at the present site of the depot. Up
to figure a plan that will accommo-
date all the trains running into the
depot. If no plan can be found, the
union depot will be moved. 1t is I'M.
derstood that plans have already been
drawn for the building itself although
this is considered the smallest part
of the undertaking. ,.
Increase in Crop.
From the crop reports i'll the rail-
road offices in st. Paul, it now uap-
pears that the crops in the northwest
this year will be on an increase of
from l5 TO 80 per cent over last year.
Wheat especially shows great in
crease. In some places such as Brock
enridge, the increase will be over so
per cent. Nearly every part of Min
nesota, North and South Dakota will
show an increase of % per cent. On
rye and barley the increase is every
where about ID per cent. On flax also
the increase is about l5 per cent. Not
only is there more grain but the quail
ity is also better. John Inglis, Chi
cago grain expert, who has been max
ing an examination of the crops in
the northwest, telephoned the first
black rust story of the year from
Aberdeen, S. d. He stated that he
had found indications of rust and
blight and feared general loss. This
report, however, is not given credence
as the wheat market was not af
fected. The grain in the past ten days
has ripened so rapidly that there is
now very little danger from anything
hurting the crop.
Letter to the Devil.
The heat wave of the past few days
has played havoc with the Twin Cities.
On Thursday, there were five deaths
and nearly dozen prostrations. Chill
dren and men working out of doors
seemed to be the worst sufferers.
Drivers of wagons i'm some instances
fell from their wagons and were
crushed under the wheels. One man,
Il laborer, took refuge in vault back
of carriage firm from the heat. He
died there and his body was not dis
covered till Friday. The postoffice au-
thorities in st. Paul are well ac-
quainted with the devil. During the
hot wave, a post card was received
by the postoffice addressed to the
Devil" The card read, "Dear Devil:
Please turn off the heat, we have had
enough. The bad are all burning or
melted. Signed, We of st. Paul"
Without a moments hesitation, the
officials sent the letter to the weather
man. The letter worked all right,
for the man who iuggles the Their
mometer Immediately turned on the
cold air current and the city got a
,tol I.nf