The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-11-04
Municipal Deficiency Is
Shown Up; Also the
Quick Remedies
Hits al Number Of Evils
That Should Be Cor
reeted Quickly

Mrs. Caroline Bartlett Crane, the
civic reformer. found much TO commend
about AfankatO. and many things 10
critciSe. as Il result of her two days
Investigations. She stated her conclh-
sions before large and spelbound au-
dience ut the First Presbyterian church
last night The entire down stars
was filled, and some were in the bal
cony Mrs. Crane spoke rapidly, in
matter of fact way, without attempt
ing To be sensational or TO play for
applar
- form Cray presided, and said
that all present were interested in civic
Improvement and sanitation. lie was
not prepared TO say but that the city
had made some advancement in these
regards in recent years. Mrs. Crane
had made this study and was in the
work because she loves it, She was
present under the auspices OF the state
board OF control and the local Civic
Improvement league.
Loo ked Forward to This Visit.
Mrs. Crane said that ever since she
had begun her campaign in Minnesota
five weeks ago she had looked for
ward to the two days to he spent in
Mankato. This was because of the
work of the Civic Improvement league.
and particularly that of the junior
league; and also because of the splen
did work of the Y. NJ. c. A.. Il social
service which she hoped that the people
OF Mankato appreciated; and because it
was the home of her friend, Governor
Eberhart, to whose help and upholding
she was under obligations for any sue
cess attained in this state; and also
because it was the first city in Min
nesota to adopt the commission form
of government. She had followed the
latter in Iowa. The Mankato expert
that the city would realize all of its
benefits. This city has in its new char
ter vital factors that many commission
governed cities do not have, one of
which is the initiative and referendum.
This is very good when it is accepted
seriously. We have not had much
democracy in cities of late. so the
speaker was glad that NIankato had
set good example in Minnesota OF
disassociating its city government from
politics and looking after its cleanli
ness and sanitation. Our business is
TO live as comfortably and BEAUTIFULLY
in every way as possible. and it is
not question of how little money
can be used in conducting a city, but
of how wisely it is used.
Officials Are Trusted Citizens.
Your officials are trusted by the
citizens, and there is no suspicion of
undue self-nterest, or of other wrong
ful motives, as / have learned from
talks with many citizens ] trust that
those vital questions, sanitation AID
protection of the public health, will be
confided to those who are especially
trained for the work The commission
form of government does not instill
this into the commissioners. You viii
have a great opportunity to set an ex-
ample to other Minnesota cities.
Now, as to Mankato, I have not
found bad conditions in the main. Tn
fact. the city seems to be far above
The average. have been charmed with
the general well kept appearance of the
homes, both of the wealthy and those
not wealthy, and also of the parks ans
boulevards. Generally speaking, the city
has unusually clean streets and alleys.
j was delighted to see flushing ma
chine at work on the paved streets,
for cities of this size do not generally
have them. They are the advance
agent of good sanitation.
Not to Spring Bombs
have not come here merely to criti-
cise and ] will spring no bombs and
earthquakes around tho city, and those
who have expected this will be dis
appointed.
The water supply. I heard of the
visitation OF typhoid fever in Mankato
two years ago, and of how it was
spread from here to other places. 1t