The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-04-11

!, the property which would be benefit
/ ed by the lights should pay for them.
but Mr.. Brandrup explained that
there was a law which prohibited
!. the council from levying a tax for
the purpose unless the property own.
ers petitioned the city for an inn
provement of this character Albert
Schippel held that the residence por-
ton of The city should pay per-
centage Of the cost of the white
way" because these people as a
whole were also benefited. However,
he was in favor OF putting the bur
den of the cost upon the property
owners. as also was Mic Peterson
Mayor A. G. Meyer said that the res.
idence portion of the city was already
taxed too heavily, and that people
living in this district should not, be
asked to pay. for the lights Ole Mel
son thought that the improvement
was SO necessary that it should be
made at any cost. and the expense
divided among property owners and
the tenants. Theodore Williams di-
vided the cost still more, and said
that owners OF property which like
that on West Walnut street near the
Milwaukee freight depot, should not
be asked to pay as much as that
which frOnted on the white way"
DR.. J. w. Andrews recommended that
the lights be installed by the city as
q whole, as was recommended by the
committee, and that the location of
the posts be left TO the council The
report was accepted, filed and the
committee continued
I M. j. Bekke, the hardware dealer
on North Front street, opposed shut
ting off the white way at Washington
street. He wanted it understood that
Front street who desire to be in the
limelight. Mr.. Bekke's sentiments
were heartily approved.
Committee on Factories.
The committee on factories sub.
mitjed the following report.
ITO the Officers and Members of
the Mankato Commercial Club. Gen.
tlemen: Your committee on manu-.
features has been active in the work
to which it was assigned, and we
are pleased to report that satisfactory
progress is being made along the
lines of securing new industries for
Mankato. Up to the present time we
have had negotiations with a number
of persons who arc anxious to locate
their factories in Mankato, but moth
ing of definite character can be
placed before the club at this time
We hope in the near future to be
able to inform the club that our nego.
tiations with certain concerns have
been successful 1t would not be
:, good policy at this time to give in
, detail what we are doing There
fore. we crave the indulgence of the
member of this organization, and
trust that they will be ready to re-
spOnd when we are in a position to
ask for some definite action on their
: part.
: ''The committee on manufactures
has been making study of the stu
alton industrially in Mankato and
We find that the concerns which are
now operating here are in splendid
condition and that they are constant
ly adding to their working forces
: This necessarily must mean that
they are expanding their trade rela
I. tions and the output is increasing
correspondence. However, we would
recommend, that to give encourage
ment to industrial growth the low
{ est rate of interest possible be &C
corded the heavy borrowers of money
which goes into the operation of oul
Y factories: that the minimum rates
!. for electric power be extended, aDC
3 that a reasonable basis of taxation
consistent with good government bt
4 adopted and that the Commercial
= club lend its advice and encourage
= meDt to the proper officials and au
+ thorities to this end"
= City Should Offer inducements.
:. The report of the committee O,
l factories was accepted and the com
g mittee continued. and DIR. c. J. Hol
L man said that it would be goot
plan for the club to induce the cit,
to set forth definite schedule O
}. what the city has to offer factorie.
o which contemplate coming here. H,
0 said that the Minneapolis Commerce,
n and Civic association had inauguratet
d such scheme, and found it an ex
It pedient way to come to conclusion
J. on the proposition of securing fac
d tories. He also spoke of pipe or
T. gan concern which would conside
L mere IL luc COLlDduy wa
e definitely informed as to the advan
h tage of Mankato as an Industrial cen
d ter
o r. e. Brown, general manager o
e the Consumers Power company re
ported for the committee on fire pro
s. lection and said that the committe,
6 had consulted with the city engineer
e and the fire department and secure,
It an estimate of the cost of the i'm
y prOvements which the committee rec
k commended. The estimated cost wa
l. from $4,000 to $4,000, and it wa
a recommended that large Waterman
r be laid in the alley between From
a and Second streets from Main stree
to Cherry street, that 100000 gallon
d reservoir be built and that a thor
d oughly adequate fire engine be pun
y chased. Mr.. Brown said that MI
It Fisher Of the Fire Underwriters as
e ISOLATION would be in the city toda,
e to look over the ground and sugges
e what would be necessary in the wa
!, OF improvements in order to get tn
it fire insurance rate lowered. A fun
y ther report will be made by the CON
d mittee at the next meeting, after MI
e Fisher has made his Investigations
n Beautifying Corner.
It II. A. Patterson reported that tn
d committee on identifying the corne
It opposite the Saulpaugh hotel ha