The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-03-06

burden may be born equally.
The good roads committee has as.
sisted in graveling several roads
near the city this winter, and also
had some dragging done last sum-
mer. Owing to the large subscription
of $1,000 for the scenic highway, the
fund at the committees disposal
was limited. with more money avail
able, more can be and will be done.
Committees of the Commercial and
Automobile clubs are at work on a
plan to mark the roads leading into
Mankato with durable metal signs
this spring.
On June II, Good Roads day, the
club was we'll represented with men,
bers working on the highways.
The Railroads.
Complaint was entered during the
year with the Minnesota Railway
and Warehouse commission against
the vexatious and seemingly need
less delays at the Minnesota trans
fer, which have worked TO the detri-
nient of some OF our local shippers.
As n result, the condition has been
much relieved.
Efforts to get the railroads 10 re-
construct their local yards, so as
to have all passenger stations east
; of the tracks, and, II possible, to Sc
cure the building of a union depot,
were begun, and negotiations are still
pending. This also involves the dis.
continuance of the switching across
Main street.
Efforts to secure a change i'm the
Chicago Great Western roads pas
| senger service, In order TO allow pas.
sengers from the east to have two
or three hours in which to trade
and transact other business in the
city, brought forth only promises to
give it consideration, and the con
dition still exists.
Mankato has been named as a
tourist destination point for the com
ing summer season, by reason oil
the efforts of the, club with the
Western Passenger association.
A refund of excess fares charged
officers and committees of the clut
while the roads were unlawfully
charging three cents mile was Sc
cured.
Interurban Electric Railways.
There is some ground for believing
that the Dan Patch electric lin,
will the coming season operate tn,
Chicago Great Western road init
Mankato, giving better passenger
service, but as yet nothing definite
has been learned.
The Luce electric line seems Il
- be planning an extension into South
rer Minnesota terirtoy, and the pro
( jected line cuts across the northwest
/ corner of this county, some mile,
from this city. II the line is bull
as proposed. It would necessitate {
stub line to Mankato. The line al
planned seems intended to tap tn,
territory midway between the Omahi
and Minneapolis & st. Louis roads
This matter may merit some atten
ton during the coming year.
Should the city become connected
! with two interurban lines, 1t ought
to reap many advantages.
Factories.
! Tho mast war hos haan prn1nar
J Gus one for our factories, as we'll as
: for our other institutions. Two OF
the local plants were partially de-
! siroyed by fire, those of the Man
kato Cement works and the North
! Star Concrete company, but both
have been rebuilt better and with
more modern machinery than before
Mayer Bros. company propose to en-
large their factory and manufacture
gas tractors and road graders, In ad
dition to their other output, and are
now seeking additional capital to en-
| able them to do so. The Hubbard
Milling company has rebuilt lis
burned cleaning elevator, better than
Il was before.
It is with pleasure that am able
to report the acquisition of a new
factory, without any financial aid
CT any kind. Mr.. v. H. Rawitzer
late Of st. Joe. Mo-, has come to
the city and is about to open q
factory on South Front street. under
the name Of the Rawitzer Tent and
Awning company. to manufacture about
fifty different trticles out of canvas
He will employ number of skilled
mechanics, and will operate the most
up-to-date machinery by electric
power. He expects to find a market
in several states. All that he has
asked of this club and OF Mankato
Is that he be given loyal local sup
port. This is no more than any other
local factory has a right to ask and
expect. and I feel sure that he will
have II.
A new ice cream and butter fac
tory and dairy Is about to be opened
on North Front street by Mr.. Ras-
mussen and others. to employ sew.
eral people. There are also one or
two smaller institutions that have