The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-10
lNTERuRBAN line PROPOSITION IS GIVEN
A GREAT BOOST BY The MANKAT0 MEN
From Fridays Daily.

ElSS OFFICE last evening, to talk over
he proposal to start work toward Sc
curing an electric line from Mankato
to Savage, there to connect with the
Dan Patch line and run into the twin
cities. The. room. was comfortably
filled, and the meeting was in SYM
pathy with the project
Mr.. Browning explained that his
partner, Mr.. Buckeye, could not come
to the city to attend the meeting, on
account of other business. He said That
he realized that not great deal was
accomplished in public meetings, but
it was good practice to hold them
and to get down to hard work after
wards. The city had, been solicited
for money pretty hard, and many had
stayed away for fear that they would
be solicited or for other reasons, but
a number that did not come were
heartily in favor of the move and had
promised Ito assist. The interurban
looked like big thing to many peo-
pie after, their experience in trying to
get street car line. The plan pro-
posed is the one that mad been fol-
lowed elsewhere with success and is
the best method for securing a line.
Mr.. Browning presented his state
ment and proposition in writing.
Questions Answered.
Mr.. Browning made further state
ment and answered number of ques-
tions. He said that at the meeting
when the Sioux City-Spirit Lake line
company was formed only five men
We're present, but the enterprise has
been carried through to the point
where it is certain that the bonds will
be foated and work commence in the
spring The quieter start was made
the better, for the. right of way is
what is wanted. Such lines as these
are being financed. Iowa does not
present as good a field for the lines as
the territory from Mankato to the
twin cities, for in Iowa the farms are
larger and the population less. There
was no place in America where the
conditions were as feasible as here.
He did not expect to take the people
by storm, but to go quietly to work.
1t was desired to interest Mankato
people now, for at. other points along
The line they will ask what Mankato
has done.
Mankato Must Go Ahead.
Mankato had reached the point where
IT must either go ahead or 60 back
wards Nobody in Mankato need be
ont more than $3.50 until the cars were
rupring. :; About ten, per cent of the
Subscriptions would be advanced, the
~est payable Ii when the line was com
pleted, The, proposition could not go
further ltakSsS the, people would give
he1pping.l HAND. 1t was up to Man
katGo. Nobody Would BE asked to do
NV soliciting. AZ Mr.. Browning said
- their own stock subscription men
would be employed at this. A local
oomnanv would be formed and no
money paid out except upon vouch-
ors. and nothing would be done except
BY the Board of directors He would .
simply be in The EMPLOY of the board
He would like to Know the feeling in
Mapkato.
He had had assurances from the Dan
Patch men that traffic arrangements
could be made with them and good
entrance had into the twin cities. The
Fort Dodge line was on paying
basis within twenty days after it
started to operate, and the conditions
are much better here than there. There
are no lakes. around there. Probably
it would notg be- necessary to ask for
a franchise from Mankato. In Iowa
five towns cast only six votes against
granting franchises. Interurbans IN
crease all business at all points, and
increase. property values. st. Paul
would be seventy four miles from Man
kato, and it would be two hours
trip, and the, charges adopted would
depend somewhat upon what the bond
holders specified, but in Iowa 500 mile
books are sold for 81, and are good
for any member of the family. Stu
dents books are sold for half cent a
mile and less. LeMars is only twenty
four miles from Sioux City, and has
twenty-eight passenger trains day,
but is trying it's best to get an inter-
urban. i
What Must BE Done.
Little lines cannot be gotten to run
into Mankato from surrounding towns
without an outlet, for they will not
pay Freight and mail are carried on
the interurbans and form the best
paying feature. The road is entitled to
one third of the charge for long haul.
If freight car was to be hauled a
mile on the interurban and then turned
over to a steam road and taken to San
Francisco, the electric road would be
entitled to one-third of the freight
charge There is nothing in the ex-
cursion business, as the bondnolders
figure the expenses equal to the re-
ceipts. There would probably be one
power station and smaller transform
ers at intervals along the line. There
would he no chance to get water
power. .
Local Men Favor 1t.
Mayor Never said that the country