The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-05-08
EXTENSION OF
ALPHABET ROAD
From Tuesdays Daily.

That something should be done to
get railroad connection with st.
Clair. and thus connect Mankato
with the alphabet line running
southwark from St Clair to Albert
Lea, was the unanimous sentiment
at a meeting of the Mankato Com
mercial club. held last evening I'm
Knights OF Columbus hall. The meet
ing followed a sumptnous supper.
which was served by ladies of the
Congregational church.
DIR. ]. w. Andrews preached this
subject. lie said II would be well,
IL possible, to get the Milwaukee
railroad company to build an extern
sion from the Alphabet" line. which
was part of It's system. westward to
Mankato. Many farmers living along
the Alphabet road were anxious to
come 10 Mankato. but they were not
able to do so, and had to go to Penn
berton OF Albert Lea.
Judge Cray said that In recent
conversation the idea had been pre-
scented to him that IL the alphabet
road should be extended northward
from st. Clair. and the Luce Elec-
trio line should go to the north and
west OF Mankato. there would be two
railroads near Mankato, but both OF
them passing this city by. He did
not think the Milwaukee could be In
duced 10 build the branch from st.
Ciair nc N bus;naes artorn,-ic.~ ~ a.,
own, but something might be done
that would compel the building OF
such a line. II steps should be TAX
en- TO run loop electric line from
Mankato through Eagle Lake and
Madison Lake to st. Clair and
then back through the county
by way OF Mapleton and Good
Thunder, II would bring to Mankato
a great deal of farm trade that now |
went over the Milwaukee TO Pember-
ton and Albert Lea. The Milwaukee,
rather than have such line built.
would probably come TO time in
hurry and build branch of its own
from Mankato to st. Clair.
James Hickey thought such loop
line as was suggested would be the
thing to solve the problem.
Arthur Schaub said he had recent
" had a talk with President Schultz
of the city railway company about
extending a branch OF the system to
st. Clair. Mr.. Schaub said he
thought Mr.. Schultz could be induced
TO build that branch without a great
deal OF trouble.
r. Z. Brown, manager of the Con-
sumers' Power company, said the
company had plenty OF electricity to
furnish for such an extension.
V. II. Rawitzer remarked that he
had been thinking for some time OF
making a business trip to st. Clair
for the purpose Of extending the
trade of his tent factory, but found
Il very hard to get there.
Nothing resulted from the discus.
Dan Patch Service TO kato.
The presiding officer presented
memorandum from Secretary Scar.
ing, expressing the belief that pros
poets were bright for the coming OF
the Dan Patch line TO Mankato by
the first of July, Mr. Soaring said he
recently took mp with officials OF the
Great Western the question OF get
ting better passenger service on the
Great Western, but had been In
formed by the superintendent that
the road could not now afford to
give any better service, as the pat.
ronage did not warrant II. Mr.. Scar
ing then took the matter up with
President Savage OF the Dan Patch
line, asking whether the company
could not lease the privilege of using
the Great Western tracks, and run a
line as far as Mankato. As a result ;
a visit was made to Mankato recent
Iy by several officers OF the Dan Patch
line. Mr., Soaring said the outlook
appeared very bright for an extern
sion OF the Dan Patch service TO ,
In the very near future. ,
. Need Of More Houses.
Judge Cray observed that the at !
tention OF the club had been called I
repeatedly to the fact that there 4
were not enough houses In the city ,
Tor all who desired to come here.
Some new houses were going up. but ,
he demand was greater than the I
supply. Gs 'tI
Mayor Meyer remarked that houses
we're going up In the-city pretty fast.
New foundations could be seen In
many parts Of the city. He won
iered what made the city grow. !
There certainly had not been an in G
crease In the factories.
II. p. Jensen In this connection
said great need OF the city was a Q
new hotel II was we'll known that J
he hotel accommodations OF the city I
we're not equal TO the demand made c
lpon them. Somebody should be
found who would make such a move. 7
He had had encouragement from a q
number of people who were willing I
% put In money TO start such an G
enterprise.
DIR. ]. w. Andrews said, Mr.. Jen- \
zen was exactly right. The present I
lotel accommodations were adequate
'nly for normal travel, but when
here was large couyanffo, fboral