The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-02-17

President III. A. Patterson of the
Commercial club took the floor at
1890 O'Clock to introduce S. B. viii.
son as POSTMASTER He said that as
he had sat there he had thought of
the hanging of the Indians not a
stones throw away and the advertis-
ing that the city had received from
it. and of the building of the Saul.
paugh hotel. The presence of 21O
men was an inspiration, and if they
would pull together for Mankato they
would make of the city what it never
had been in the past, and make it
one of the best cities in the country
He would like to have referred to
the road and bridge work, but there
was not time. He spoke of the flu
ture of the Commercial club, and
said that he hoped that within the
next month 500 to 1000 members
would be enrolled. IF the business
men would furnish money, the club
could employ permanent secretary
and lease rooms, and if this could
be done it would justify coming to-
gether tonight.
POSTMASTER Denounces the Express
Rates.
Mr.. Wilson spoke of the impOr-
lance Of the subject of waterways to
the northwest. The question of in
accommodation and transportation
had been of great interest to this
section for years. The city was
relieved of the telephone throttle by
one of the best telephone companies
in the country, the local one, and it's
origin was due to this club, and it's
success in the future would be due
to the club members. Bills have been
passed in late years that were not
dreamed of fifteen years ago. Public
sentiment is demanding a revision of
freight rates. The express compa-
MES are a worse monopoly than the
railroads, yet no action seems to be
taken by any authority to stop it..
The Wells Fargo shares sold up to
600 in Wall street last year, and it's
profits on all investments, including
real estate, was As per cent. The
American made los per cent. The
only competition that the government
has in its mail service is with the
express companies. The postal de-
partment ought to be self sustaining.
but 1T is not run on business prin-
ClpleS. Canada, Great Britain and
Japan are making profit out of the
mail service. The reason that the
United States cannot make money is
because of the competition of the ex-
press companies. The latter solicit
trade and get it, while the govern
ment makes no effort to get business.
The parcels post is coming, public
sentiment demands it, and it will
harm but few people and benefit a
great many. The express companies
Should be regulated so as to only
make fair return on their invest
ment.
The speaker condemned the pro
posal made to the board of education
to install a savings bank system in
the schools. He said that public SEN
timent was against it. and for that
reason it would probably not be
adopted. 1t would create dissention
among the children, as some would
not have the pennies to bring to
deposit.
Waterways Advocate Speaks.
Colonel J. II. Davidson was intro
duced and said that before election
everything seemed to be going dry.
but since then it seemed as though
everything was going wet, even the
weather. In ancient Rome there
were nine large aqueducts, delivering
100000 gallons of water into Rome
daily, from many miles, and water
ways have taken up the attention of
governments more or less ever since.
Since the Civil war the government
has been investigating the run off of
the streams, and of late has been
doing this in Minnesota. We have a
wonderful state. 1t has $28,000,O
invested in bonds, in the school fund.
and when all the money has been
realized it will have $2OO,OOO,OOO in
vested, with a large income Owing
to the foresight of Governor Ramsey
and others. this heritage was Sc
cured, and the state has more pros
pective wealth than any other.
Minnesota Was Useful.
In the early days, great sidewheel
steamers piled the Minnesota. bring
ing flour, ham and other products
to Mankato, that are now shipped
out. A great change has occurred
in traffic conditions, and the railroads
have come. The rates on water
transportation are one-half to one
third of the rates for railroad trans
portatiOn. Heavy and slow freights
ought to go by water. We have not
in this country modern methods at
terminal water points for loading
and unloading. In Liverpool, Man
chester and other European points
the cost of loading and unloading
freights from ships is Az to cents
ton. Electric derricks are used
while in America roustabouts do it
by hand. At Duluth aud Superior
the facilities for loading and unload
ing iron Oro and cooI ORC tbo ,-o,,,