The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-15

that third bridge be included in
that amendment. Why not repair
the one we have and get two be-
sides this one. I think it's very mar
row for city like Mankato to have
only one bridge. | think North
Mankato is entitled to have the
street car lines run across the river,
and it's not fair to ask very much
of the people there when they have
to go so far to make their pur-
which the congestion can be re-
lieved and that is to build two more
bridges. | move that in the amend
ment to DR.. Andrews resolution,
two new bridges, instead of one be
included.
George NJ Palmer then thought it
would be a good idea to ascertain if
the citizens of North Mankato were
willing to have a bridge as far south
as Sibley mound.
Views of Manager Hance.
H. E. Hance, manager of the
Mankato Electric Traction company,
then stated his views: This North
Mankato proposition has been in our
minds since the beginning of the
street railway There is only one
way for us to go across the river.
Now, whether or not we could get
our Chicago representatives to agree
to laying the tracks at Sibley
mound, / do not know, but such a
route would require such large
amount of mileage and expense for
every mile, that it would eat up all
profits, and probably be a loss, with
the amount of business we would
do there. When people ride, they do
so to gain time and generally not
for pleasure. A circuit crossing
the river at Sibley mound and then
near the quarries, would be so large,
that it would eat up all the profits,
and the street car company, ! think,
would not feel satisfied with that.
"And if we built but one bridge,
say at Sibley mound, the people
in lower town would not feel salts
fed
Remarks BY Father Hughes.
Rev. Father Hughes gave some
sound ideas in this matter. He said
that the bridge question should be
solved on general principles. He
thought that if there was any posi-
bility of building bridge it should
be located where it would be of adj
vantage to both cities. II think the
proposition of trying to get three
bridges will fail because it is asking
too much. At the present time a
bridge in the southern part of town
would not be of very much service
to the northern part of the city. We
should strive TO accommodate the
most people and should be willing to
expend money for that purpose"
Rev. Hughes said that if a good
bridge could be built, Mankato
would be as large as both cities, in
that it would give sufficient accom-
mediation and thus make the two
cities a unit, and make the cOnnec-
tions stronger.
An underground bridge, he thought,
would be impracticable as high wa
ter would destroy it or make it
failure An overhead bridge would
prove equally bad, as one would
then have to go back to Second
street to reach it. 1t would prove
barrier to progress and would pc
spending money foolishly.
Mr.. Robe and Mr. Palmer Agree.
Mr.. ,Robel then spoke again. He
agreed with Mr.. Palmer in regard
to the impracticability of building a
bridge near Sibley mound, as it
would not do North Mankato very
much good under present conditions.
Perhaps a third of the population
including himself would advise such
course for personal reasons, but
taking North Mankato as a whole,
he thought they would be decidedly
against it. He wanted the bridge
bnilt down a little farther, near
Owatonna street.
Judge Cray then reported that he
had received a. message from some
of the citizens of Belgrade, who,
had not heard of the meeting until
late in the afternoon, and hence
could not be present. He said that
the citizens who had telephoned him
had thought that if the meeting had
been advertised a few days before,
that they would have sent large
delegation to attend, as they also
were highly interested in the move
ment. The citizens there had al
ready spent $4,000 on the hill IN
Belgrade and therefore wanted to
complete the conveniences by get
ting better bridge service. They
were practically unanimous in favor
of a new bridge. This meeting was
first decided upon late Saturday aft
ernoon, and the people of Belgrade
did not hear of it until late Mon
day afternoon through the papers,
and hence could not make arrange
ments to be present.
No Help From Railroads.
Judge Cray further stated that UNI
less the bridge was so built that
the railway tracks could be avoided
no help could be expected from the
railway companies. He said that
North Mankato's financial condition
was not very encouraging at pres
emit, Nicollet county was not very
heavily populated and hence not very
rich, and no mention need be made
of the financial condition Of this
city, and hence the building of two
new bridges looked like spending too
much money that was not to be
had.
George Atchson did not agree
with this at all. He said that two
| bridges could be built for what one
would cost at Main street. He said
that Nicollet county was without
any bonded indebtedness, and that