The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-07-07
From fridays Dallv.

With thousands of people expected
in Mankato on July Fourth special
care should be taken that every
visitor returns to their home favor
ably impressed by the industry,
beauty, and civic cleanliness of the
city, as we'll as by the beautiful
parks and surroundings. Every act of
hospitality possible should be shown
to the guests within the city's gates,
and they should be given good
time' in every sense of the words.
The pageant illustrating early South
ern Minnesota history, is an import
ant feature of the day which is attract
ing wide interest, and the committees
in charge have had their hands fullan-
swering correspondence as well as
looking after the details of the affair
itself. Preparations are being made
for taking care of the crowds, to see
that they are we'll fed and housed,
and that the cars of those who come
to the city by automobile are cared
for safely. The various organizations
of the city will take pleasure in call
ing the attention of the visitors to the
growth the city has made during the
past year or two, and to the public
improvements that have been and
are now being made. Several miles of
creosoted block and concrete pave
ments have been laid the past two
seasons, and last fall a white way
covering seventeen blocks in the bust
ness district was installed. This year
huge concrete bridge is being con-
structed over the Minnesota river, a
big concrete reservoir is being built
on one of the bluffs overlooking the
city to double the water supply III
case of fire, extensive storm water
sewers are being put in, some of the
alleys are being paved with concrete,
and the city parks have been added
to and beautified. In every part of the
city, almost in every block, new build
ings are going up. All of these i'm
provements, together with the public
library, state normal school, and
other public and educational institu-
tions, the visitors are cordially in
vited to inspect during the intermis-
sions of the big Fourth, of July pro-
gram, which will occupy most of the
day and evening.
Make City Beautiful
R. E. Brown, chairman of the deco
week, has arranged with w. H. An
derson to make the city beautiful
Merchants and residents are asked
to decorate more lavishly than they
have ever done. Already there has been
such demand for bunting and flags
that a shortage is threatened. People
should buy early to prevent being dis
appointed. 1t seems that there is at
present a shortage of flags and bunt-
ing all 'over the United States and
that prices have advanced one hun
dred per cent, this being due to short
age of cotton and dyes, and higher
prices for labor. -,
Saturday afternoon it Is desired
that there be a good attendance at
rehearsals, and everyone should make
a special effort to be present
Monday morning a complete dress
rehearsal of the entire pageant will
be held at Sibley park, and it is re-
quested that every actor be present
to take part. Merchants are asked to
excuse those of their employees who
are taking part in the pageant, so
they may attend dress rehearsal. The
business men are interested in hav-
ing the pageant success and will no
doubt do this. Rehearsal will start at
nine o'clock. There is quite a strong
sentiment among those taking part
to have the pageant on July Fourth
begin at four o'clock in the afternoon.
The circus people have promised to
start the circus at 100, and it will be
concluded by 2:45, SO the people who
attend it can then proceed to the park
and see the pageant. The grand stand
will accommodate three thousand
people, and the boxes will accommo-
date about a thousand. Quite num-
Der of editors of Southern Minnesota
have sent in for reserved seats, and
they report that the people of their
towns are greatly interested in the
celebration and predict large at
tendance.