The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-06-06
COMMITTEE HAS HAD GER
TAIN REPAIRS THERE
MONEY FROM THE STATE
II Win Be Spent Judiciously;
Made To Go As Far As
Possible

Minneopa state'park is to be brush
ed up and made to Immediately pre-
sent dts best appearance. II has be-
come somewhat run down during the
past two years, because two years ago
Governor Burnquist vetoed the appro .
priation for its upkeep. The legisla-
ture last month appropriated 81, 500 a
year for two years for its maintenance
and care, and the governor allowed
this TO stand. The state auditor has
placed the expenditure of this money
in the hands of the Commercial club
committee on Minneopa state park,
the same as he has done in the past,
and in this way the money is made
to go as far as possible and the most
needed things are done. This COM
mittee, as appointed by President
Snow for the coming year, consists of
Thomas Hughes, George NJ. Palmer.
Judge Lorin Cray. John C. Noe, f. F.
Soaring and Clarence Staley Mankato
park superintendent.
Committee Has Been Busy.
The committee has held two meet
ings recently, and visited the park
last Wednesday afternoon to see what
Improvements are needed. II was found
that great many repairs and minor
improvements are absolutely neces-
sary, n~order to keep the park prop
erty up TO what it should be. 1t was
decided to have Mr.. Roberts continue
as caretaker, and TO have him clear up
the grounds at once, take down dead
and unsightly trees, NOW, rake and
burn, until the grounds are brought
into excellent condition. He will en-
ploy one or two men to assist him.
o. l.. Barnes was engaged to do the
necessary repair work and make sew
eral improvements, and will have an
other carpenter with him. The pic
mic tables and seats will be repair
ed. the kitchen and toilets put in first
class condition, the iron fence near
the falls repaired, a heavy wire
fence built east from the iron fence
along the top of the ledge overlook
ing the creek for about 40 feet, to
/ keep children from falling over the
bank, lattice screen placed to shield
the smaller of the ladies' toilets, four
new swings put up to replace the two
Fold ones, two teter boards provided,
etc.
Bridge Are to Be Rebuilt.
The high water carried out the
bridges over the creek below the falls,
and these are to be rebuilt, little
higher than before, one near the falls
and the other near the foot of the
steps leading. down to the creek The
present bridge above the falls will be
repaired.
The various buildings will be re-
painted a new stove purchased for the
kitchen, new garbage cans bought,
new signs put up, two new coffee
boilers procured, etc.
1t is also intepded to seal up the
pavilion under the roof, where birds
build nests and roosl to the detriment
Meath 1t is likely that this will be
done with galvanized iron screen. If
the well can be repaired without too
much expense, it may be fixed and
piped TO the pavilion, and tile drain
| age to the creek put in.
No Private Owned Property.
The committee decided that it was
desirable that there be no private
owned property on the park, and TO
! this end decided to offer TO buy the
lrefreshment stand from the present
owner, Mr.. Melvin, and if it cannot be
bought for reasonable figure to re-
quire its removal from the grounds.
I Ii it is bought, someone will be grant
ed the refreshments concession.
The repair work will begin early
next week, and it is intended to COM
plete it as rapidly as possible, so that
! the park may continue to be as popu-
lar a visiting place as in the past. 1t
! is one of the prettiest places in Min
nesota, and the state is to be com
mended on having procured it for
preservation for all the people during