The Mankato free press., 1910-03-04
SALE OF Gas PLANT
ALSO ELECTRIC LIGHT CONCERNS
PARAPHERNALIA
Consumers Company With Headquar-
ters in Chicago Is Purchaser;
Bought a Chain Of Properties;
Power at Rapidan to Be Devel-
oped; Important Enterprise For
Mankato; Large Sums to Be Ex-
Pended.
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
f! a deed has been placed upon rec
ord, transferring from the Mankato
Gas and Electric Light company to the
Consumers Power company, whose prin
cipal place of business is Saltwater,
!lots &, Z, s: 8 and 10, block l3G, Man
kato, for 81. These lots include the
electric light plant and gas plant of
the local company and all buildings
and equipment thereon.
A deed was also filed today. con
veying from Thomas l.. Rodgers and
Paul T. Rodgers to r. j. Graf of Hi
nos, lot a. auditors subdivision of
neA, section = Rapidan, and half a
dozen other descriptions, including the
mill lot of G.5S acres, ior $1,000. This
property includes Mr.. Rodgers Rapi-
dan mill property.
First of Number of Deeds.
1t is understood that these deeds
are the first of a number that are to
be placed ON file, transferring property
in the valley of the Blue Earth river
from the Rapidan mill for four or
five miles up the river to the parties
purchasing the local gas and electric
light plant.
1t is known that negotiations for
the sale of the local plant have been
on foot for several months, and they
have been brought to successful con-
clusion, as shown by the recording of
the deeds.
Refused to Make Statement.
While the officials of the Mankato
Gas and Electric Light company re-
fuse to make any statement at this
time, there is good reason to believe
that a company has been organized
in Chicago, which has taken over the
Saltwater, Redwing, Faribault and
Mankato lighting plants, and the Can
non Falls power, and that the four
will be operated hereafter, or soon, un-
der one management. The Consumers
Power company is said to be the name
of the Minnesota branch, only, and
that the Chicago capitalists own plants
in other states.
There is also reason TO believe that
this same company is planning to con
struct great dam at Rapidan, for
the purpose of developing large wa
ter power for commercial uses, in gem
Grating electricity, to be converted into
light and power. 1t has been mat
ter of common knowledge that sur
veyors for the company have been
working i'll conjunction with County
Surveyor Brooks in making thorough
surveys of the river for the proposed
water power, and it is rumored that
! a concrete dam sixty feet high is to
bc erected. when will cause a lake
to form four and half mlles long,
overfowing all of the low land, and it
is this low land that is being bought
at the present time. it is thought. It
is said that $25O,OOO may be expended
Oh this project, giving employment to
200 men the coming season.
R. E. Brown to Stay.
While all of the former owners have
disposed of their interests, it is under
is to remain in charge of the local
plant, which all OF his many friends
will be glad to know.
The development of this water power
will be one of the most important
moves for Mankato that have yet hap
pcncd. If it results in securing ample
power, SO that electricity for lighting
and power can be cheapened, it will
result in greatly increased use of
it., and it will mcan that factories
seeking new locations where they can
get power at reasonable prices can be
secured The question of fuel has here
tofore been the great stumbling block
to getting factories from further east,
but this objection will be Obviated,
with cheap electric power.
No doubt full and authorized an
nouncement of the sale and the plans
OF the new company and who compose
it will soon be made.