The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-09-17

What promises to be a movement Ill
the direction OF improving the UNI
slightly slough, referred to in the edi-
torial columns of last evenings Free
Press, has been started, A number of
Mankato's prominent citizens have in
terested themselves in the subject, and
in interviews several good suggestions
are made as to what could be done in
the premises:
Interview With Miss Van Buren,.
Miss van Buren,, president of the
Civic Improvement League said: "We
have in mind, you and l, young WON
an whom nature has endowed with
many charms, fair face, an amiable
disposition, and active mind. Her gown
and hat are well chosen as to material
and style; she wears a modest couture
and her carriage is quiet and dignifed.
Ones first impulse is to eXclaim, What
a beautiful girl But there is a note
out of harmony with her general APP
at once rebels against, a discordant
something which may puzzle the less
fastidious for a time, but which never
escapes the eye of the keen observer.
Now wait-ah, yes. we have it. That
suggestion of frayed petticoat, passe
glove, boot little lax as to heel, a
little scuffed as to toe. In short, there is
in evidence something of carelessness
which mars Miss Blanks otherwise
beautiful person.
'We love Miss Blank for her rare
qualities of mind and heart, but we
cannot help wishing that some loyal
friend might make the suggestion or
drop the hint that would open her eyes
to her deficiencies
How Mankato Appeals to US.
"Now Mankato appeals to many,
much as does Miss Blank. Nature has
been lavish in her gifts and the casual
observer eXclaims at once, What a
beautiful city This oft reiterated
praise has made us, who appreciate
Mankato for her fine qualities, blind
to her faults of complacency and neg.
ligence i'll small things. 1t does not re-
quire a landscape gardener nor the
EYE of fastidiousness to detect in a
trip from end to end of the city, the
slovenliness resulting from the self
satisfaction, or inertia, Tor shall we
call it lack of pride?) of this other
wise charming community.
at is time her skirts were trim
med, few stitches applied to her
gloves, bit of polish to her shoes
and the friendly suggestion of last
evenings Free Press editorial, concern
ing the unsightly slough, cannot too
soon meet with a ready response, if
Mankato, be in reality, what her adj
mirers would fain have her-the city
clearly and beautiful
Slough Could Be Made Valuable.
j. c. Noe, chairman of Civic league
committee on public places, parks and
trees was glad to know that interest
was again to be revived regarding the
unsightly and useless tract of land
known as the slough, as suggested in
the Free Press editorial of last evening.
Mr.. Noe said: 81 have often wondered
why the owners of the slough property
did not utilize the land for some prac-
teal purpose, instead of allowing it
to be totally unproductive and unre-
munerative.
Viewing the matter from practical
standpoint, as | do, | feel that the
slough land could be used to good ad-
vantage in the raising of celery some
what as that industry has been car
ried on in Kalamazoo, Mich. There,
large tracts of marshy land were con-
verified into celery bearing property
that has meant not only revenue to the
owners but also another very import
ant feature is that it has given en-
ployment to a large number of men
who were the support of families.
eff the main portion could be con-
verified into celery raising property and
some land at either end of the slough
could be reclaimed and filled in for
building purposes, the eyesore would be
practical benefit to Mankato."
Approves the Suggestion.
Rev. E. L. Heermance, chairman of
Civic league committee on streets. al
leys and sidewalks, said: 81 appreciate
very much the editorial in last nights
Free Press and most emphatically think
that something ought to be done with
the slough property. To me, the most
feasible plan would be to form an
syndicate that would buy the property,
which is excellent soil for all kinds of
market gardening, and sell it in small
portions for that purpose, also convert
a portion of it between Front and
Pleasant street into park. Regard
ing the lake suggestion, like the idea
of a large flow of water if there would
be no danger of stagnants water. I
feel that both the practical and the