The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-03-07
Annual Report of Secretary
E. F. Soaring Submitted to the
Commercial Club Last Night


AT the close of the present year,
the books show that 125 members
have paid their dues in full for the
past year, that three have paid 20
each and that: one has paid W.
There is due the club at this time
from membership dues, SO from
twenty-five members, or $500; So from
three members, or SIS; and 81 from
one member. This makes total Of
1852 due the club for the past
years dues, besides so which one
member owes for the preceding year,
and which he promises to pay.
consider practically all of this col
lectable 1t would save the secre-
tary a lot OF work if the members
would pay their dues promptly when
notified, or at least on the first call
in person of the secretary. No
business man ought to begrudge the
moderate membership fee of this
club. 1t is the only general or
ganization of the business interests
of the city, and has been and Is
doing a splendid work for the city
| would suggest the appointment of
an active membership committee for
the coming year.
Last spring, 5000 advertising
booklets were published and paid
for by the club. Adding TO the re-
ceipts of $917.73 reported above, the
5000 previously received from the
city, the total receipts from all
sources in the booklet account foot
up to $1,11773, while the expendi.
plus of S1636 There is outstand-
ing one bill of SIS not yet passed
upon by the advisory board, but If
this was paid, there would be still
a balance on the right side of the
ledger for the club. Up to date,
about $500 copies of the booklet
have been put out, in one way or
another, and they are being heard
from in various quarters and are
doing some good The club still has
$500 copies, and could spare 1900
copies for the business men to dis
tribute. The advisory board has
made a very low price on these, and
/ would like to see them put out
during the coming year. Some little
revenue to the club is to be antici-
pated from this source. The cuts
are d valuable asset and can be
| used again.
At the farmers meeting last spring
| a. ]. Glover, editor of Hoard's Dairy.
man, charged $50 for his lecture, or
/ its equivalent in subscriptions to his
paper at 81 year The club paid
him $50 and has disposed of sew.
enteen subscriptions at SIS. 1t has
! tllirty-three subscriptions left, which
/ it is trying to dispose of at one-hali
the regular subscription price.
| A little more cash was raised fol
the recent farmers convention and
seed fair than was needed to pay
the cash premiums and make good
| the guarantee to the associations
and this will be turned into the gen
eral fund to help meet the expenses
of the convention, such as hall rent
decorating, etc.
What Club Accomplished.
At this time it may not be ou
/ of place to call attention to a few
of the accomplishments and endeav
Ors of the Commercial club during
| the past year, "lest we forget
{; The latter part of last March {
better farming convention wa.
held through the efforts of the club
and some of the best speakers o
the northwest in this line were Sc
cured, but the farmers failed L
grasp the opportunity, and the at
tendance was disappointment light
yet the good reports published a
length in the local daily paper
helped to spread the gospel.
On April 2 the Southern Mime
sofa Better Development leagu
was organized in this city, through
the efforts and under the patronag
I. Of this club. This was large an,
important gathering, delegation
from fifty-one cities and towns be
ing present. While the league ha
not proved to be as effective or aC
tive as some had hoped, yet no on
will dispute the fact that there i
a wide field for its work and tina
a strong, effective organization coul
do much in bringing Southern Mir
neSOta forward in every way. TIL
league is to hold it's annual winte
meeting here next week, and ha
strong program, and one that wi
merit the attendance of all of TIL
business men. Every Mankato citize
is welcomed and urged to attend
Last year, Mankato business mel
as whole, were conspicuous b
their absence, fact which drew III
, favorable comment from the visitors
On May IA a good roads banque
was served by this club to TOWNSHIP
supervisors, road overseers, officer
} OF commercial organizations an
good roads clubs throughout tn
D county. This proved a great SUI
cess, and some excellent addresse
0 were given. At the same time til
highway engineers of the state me
0 here, and were shown some court
sizes by this club, and entertaine
0 at dinner.
1t was early in May that TIL
0 clubs prompt efforts helped MAJ
kato contractor land the contra,
5 for erecting the ladies' dormitory {
the state normal school, and secu
l. ed the naming of Mankato materia
d in its construction, especially Ma
d katO stone instead of Bedford ston
5, This is a beautiful building, and
It credit alike TO Contractor Carlstror
e the state, the city, and the Manka
l. materials used
pi The advertising booklet above r
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