The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-09-07
Albert Lea Man Writes In
Praise Of This City
WHAT BURT MAY SAW
Pleasing Reference Made to the
Metropolis of Southern
Minnesota
From MONDAYS Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
Burt May, editor of The Albert Lea
Tribune, came to Mankato last Thurs
day with the city officials of that
place. He was conquered by the beau
ties of this city and in his paper he
writes as follows:
From GAINESVILLE west to Mankato
the country seems to be more favor
able for apples than anywhere along
the route. Large apples, kissed rosy
red by the late August sun, hung
temptingly near the right of way
fence. In fact on several occasions
much persuasive force had to be used
by the more staid of the party, to pre-
vent Mark Jones and some of the 9TH
er officials (more or less inclined to
remember their youthful years. from
jumping over the car doors and max
ing a raid on the fruit.
"The city of Mankato can we'll feel
proud of the natural beauty that lies
in every direction for miles around
this historic place. From GAINESVILLE in
a northwesterly direction along the
route taken, the natural timber grows
more dense and the land little more
rugged as one nears Mankato.
Thousands of dollars is now being
expended on these roads. In the low
places, where the highways have been
very poor during the wet seasons, the
nearest hills have been cut and the
dirt used for good wide and sub
stantial grades. While the low places
have been remedied the road makers
have at the same time eliminated the
hills. If Waseca and Blue Earth coun-
ties will gravel these new roads as
soon as completed they will have made
a valuable permanent improvement.
cit is said that the road by the way
of GAINESVILLE is one of the most pic
turesque entering Mankato. AS one
approaches the valley he sees moth
ing of Mankato until IIhe looks down
from the bluffs some two hundred and
the trees and hills along the pretty
Minnesota and Blue Earth rivers. At
this time of the year when natures ex-
pert artist is just beginning to blend
his wonderfully harmonious colorings
and the atmosphere is filled with that
blue, dreamy, Indian summer look
Mankato is in its best and the view
from this particular point of the city
is extraordinarily delightful to the
eyes of any onew no has the least ar
tistic sense.
From the tops of these hills the Al
bert Lea party wound it's way down
IF he txy RI
were met by two of Mankato's most
cordial and hospitable citizens, Christ
Steiner, head of the city department
of streets and alleys and City Engineer
Fl. F. Biomquist. Mayor L. l.. ChamplIn
had been called out ofrthe city the day
previous and could not be in the city
to welcome the visitors.
"After dinner at the Saulpaugh no.
tel, these two gentlemen spared no
efforts to make their guests feel at
home.
"The first building visited was the
S3S 900 city hall just completed. The
place was as slick and clean as
whistle from the fine white enameled
Jail and barber shop in the basement
to the modern commission councll
chamber and nurses room on the
third floor. From the city hall the party
were conducted through the water
works and power plant. all operated
by the Northern States Power company
electricity. After looking over this
plant and the fire department Duddlng
the two big reservoirs two hundred and
ten feet above the city were examined.
at all times, as Mankato gets It's wa
ter pressure from these tanks.
Before the party left Mankato they
were invited to visit Sibley park ana
were well repaid forstheir time spent.
This remarkable park is said to be one
of the best parks ever furnished to
CITY solely by mother nature. Inc
pretty place lies along the Blue Earth
river. 1t contains approximately Sixty
! five acres of perfectly level land. In the
center is an Indian mound rising TO a
height of some fifty-five feet. Tnls is
covered with beautiful trees as nature
provided. No more ideal spot coulo
have been selected for place OF this
sort. The zoo is above the average
seen at public parks. The ANIMALS are
housed in artistic buildings along tne
river. They are well kept and cared
| for at all times.
| "From Mankato the party left the
| city on the southwest state road 1ol
Rapidan. Everyone who visits Man
kato should make it point to return
by the way of Rapidan over TINS
| scenic highway. For miles you travel
along the Blue Earth river when
winds its way down the valley hrts
feet below.
"After looking over the big power
dam and machinery turned by tne
waters Ga very interesting part OF tne
! trip indeed the party left by way 0,
Good Thunder, Minnesota Lake ano
Mapleton arriving at, Wells Tor supper
and then back to Albert Lea over the
I'M. w. A. trail arriving here at ten
thirty in the evening. Take the trip &c
Mankato some day. It's a good one
through a fine part of Minnesota ano
some of it's best towns and cities.
| No Street Cars Running Today.
| T,,.oeo DiSnatCh.