The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-09-28
DR.. J. R. Nannstad Charmed
With Beauty Of This City
CAME and IS CONQUERED
Nature In Its Splendor Has
Dealt Very Literally With
Town and Vicinity
From Mondays Daily.
DR.. J. r. Nannestad in The Albert
ca Tribune


The road from Rapidan to Mankato
is a piece of splendid road construc-
tion and winds through what l be-
lieve is one of the prettiest stretches
of country in the whole state.
Field, forest, river, valley and hill
all contribute in profuse variation to
the perfection of the scenery. New
surprises are continually in store for
you and one lovely scene after another
opens up in a bewildering profusion.
1t is with a feeling of regret that you
notice the miles slipping by. You un-
consciously step on the brakes and
slow down to few miles an hour.
Several times We stopped the car en-
tirely
AS you approach Mankato the valley
widens out and you get an occasional
glimpse of the big Minnesota valley.
1t was a perfect afternoon. The
recent frost had just touched the
leaves, and the forest and field pre-
scented for your admiration all the
colors of the rainbow with the inter-
yening shades in the bargain.
But we had to tear ourselves away
and soon we entered Mankato-''The
City with a Future" as the city dads
of that live, young city like to say
when they refer to it. Some of them
go step further and refer to Man
kato as THE Metropolis Of Southern
Minnesota" all OF which goes to show
that the boosters of Mankato have no
hesitation of thinking along big lines,
when it comes to their home town.
Nature Kind to Mankato
Well! Nature has been very kind
to Mankato. The town is situated
right on the big bend of the Minnesota
river just below its junction with Blue
Earth river.
The present Minnesota river is only
a remnant of the magnificent and pow
erful river which in glacial times oc-
cupied the Minnesota valley.
Just glance at the wide deep valley
which at Mankato measures a couple
miles in cross section. Then note the
high bluffs which rise some 200 or 800
feet on both sides of the valley. Then
look at the little Minnesota river
and even the most casual observer
will say to himself that the Minnesota
river is baby occupying giants
bed and that the present river never
could have accomplished the enor-
nous work of digging the Minnesota
valley.
The real Minnesota river, which
dug the Minnesota valley in the gla-
cial period was an enormous river just
as wide as the present valley and it
rolled with turbulent and swollen icy
waters. 1t was at that time busy
draining the enormous Lake Agassz
This was before the birth of the pres
ent Red River valley, before the birth
of the Red River of the North
An Ideal Townsite.
The old Minnesota river provided
Mankato with an ideal townsite. Most
of the business section of the town is
located on the old level riverbottom
while large part of the residence dis
trict is situated along the bluffs and
beautifully wooded ravines. This lends
considerable variety of scenery and
picturesqueness to the town.
But the old river did not only fur
nish Mankato with a townsite. 1t also
laid the foundation for the business
prosperity of the town.
1t dug away the drift and laid bare
the wonderful limestone formations
which for a number of years have
been quarried all the way from Man
kato to Kasota, distance of eight
miles, and which have furnished q
means Of livelihood for thousands OIL
families.
Here at Albert Lea we have import
ed large quantities of this MankatC
limestone for building purposes. Ii
fact it is being shipped all over the
northwest for foundation and copins
work, for bridge building and orna.
mental purposes.
The stone business however is no
as fiourishing as it used to be. Con
crete lends itself in many ways bette
to building conditions. AS conse
quence it is being used more ant
more. In fact for many purposes sucl
as bridge construction the concrete i
crowding natural stone out of the mar
ket.
The old river foresaw this condi
ton. So it quietly laid bare for Man
kato another formation which is nov
being quarried and makes an excel
the town with fine clay, which i
lent cement. The river also furnishe
worked into first class brick.
Sand and Gravel.
AS a fitting climax to all these gift
the river furnishes Mankato with a
inexhaustible supply of sand and grav
ell for roadmaking, plastering and ce
ment construction. In olden times
was said that, Egypt was the gift {
the Nile" With equal truth it can b
said that "Mankato is the gift of tn
Old Minnesota River"
No wonder Mankato was started q
a river town. Steamers used to com
up from Mississippi in early days an
Mankato was started originally as
trading post with the Indians. Tt
first permanent settlers came the1
in 1852. AS a rule the Indians wei
friendly. But occasionally they won
go on the warpath. Right on the mai
business street of Mankato today is
monument erected on the very sp,
where thirty eight Indians we
hanged. This happened in 1862 aft,
the terrible outbreak of the Siol
and the New Ulm massacres in Civ
war times.
Mankato has some beautiful park
The special pride of the town is Siblt
park. 1t is a tract of land consistir