The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-01-21


with the amount of money mention
ed. Then Mankato could get on the
ground floor in asking the legisla-
ture for the government appropria-
ton.
Mr.. Tompkins said that the present
armory, which was originally ercted
for one company, Is hardly adequate
to house the supplies Of the COM
pany. In fact some OF the equipment
is now in storage, which is very dis
pleasing to the federal government.
II the people of Mankato want joint
armory and community building. Mr..
Tompkins stated that chapter 342 OF
the laws Of 1911 provides that in
such instances municipalities are en-
titled to levy not to exceed $4,000
for the purpose Of the erection of a
community building in connection
rectors consisting of one person rep
resenting the civilian interests and
one the military interests OF the
building is appointed.
Referring to what 1t means to any
community to have a military organ
cation such as Mankato is possessed
of, Mr.. TompSins said that the gov
eminent had decided to make the
national guard the foundation of tn"
future armies of the United States.
They are the most intelligent army.
and while they are being trained at
home, they are at the same time
producing and earning a ivel-h
outside Of military affairs. Their
valuable services to the community
in which they live has not been re-
moved. Right here in Mankato it
means that the military companies
receive pay roll aggregating $40.
600 year. Every penny of this is
spent right here by the boys. Th
military organizations here might be
likened to a factory of mill with a
payroll of at least $4,000 a year.
Business men should see the import
ance of this and make a decided eff
fort to retain this valuable asset for
the city Of Mankato.
Ten Tests of a City.
Mr.. Tompkins said that there are
ten tests Of city: It's attractiveness,
its healthGllness, it's educational ad
vantages, the people who make up
the city, recreation and amuse-
ments; living, accessibility. business
advantages; employment facilities
and progressiveness. The residen
of any city should be able to say,
am living in a town of beautiful and
wholesome surroundings, city that
offers the best educational advant-
ages in the country: the best roads
and STREETS to be found anywhere;
and above all a live community
where all the residents are progress,
sive, and alive to the needs of labor
and husin ess In general
Major G.. A. Dahl, like Mr.. Temp
kins said that he thought the Unit
ed States government to appropriate
$4,000 for every one thousand put
in by this community was a good
proposition. The national guard in
the future will figure to very large
The new organization provides for
the placing of the units in such a
manner that in case of hostilities in
the future, that 100000 men could
be placed id the field in a very few
days. Like the former speakers, Ma
jor Dahl said that Mankato will have
to act quickly if it wants to retain
the regimental headquarters. Other
towns are anxious to secure the same
He called attention to the fine music
of the Fifth Regiment band last
evening. If Mankato wants to re
tain that and the headquarters of the
company something must be done at
once to provide larger and better
quarters. Major Dahl also called at
tentjon to the immense pay roll of
the boys, stating that every cent OF
the same is spent right here in Man
kato.
Favored By Mr.. Palmer
George NJ. Palmer was very much
pleased with the statement of I. N.
Tompkins as to the ten requisites of
a city The speaker said that he lik-
ed to see the people of Nankato have
all of the advantages of large assem-
blies in this city. Amusements are
large feature in civic growth. Man
kato should have a convention hall
which will accommodate the large
conventions, many Of which woul'
have come here in the past had the
had accommodations. Mr.. Palmer
would like to see a memorial erected
to the boys who fought in the Wo"
war and previous wars. In the com
munity building there should be
provisions for historical records.
Quarters for the Red Cross, the Civic
and Commerce association. etc. M
Palmer said that he was heartily IT.
favor Of going ahead with the propo
sition of combined building along
those lines.
President Streater said that tn
directors of the Civic and Commerce
association are in favor of the move
ment. They had gotten behind tho
Fifth Regiment Band with the aid
of the city council. He called at
tention to the fact that the band can
not be held here unless provisions for
better quarters for the militia com
panles located here are not provided
Mr.. Streater said that Mankato is
Greatly in need of a community cen
ter, and thought that the proposition
would have the backing of the ner
He stated that people must act right
now, two or three years from now
will be too late. Lets go right
now" said Mr.. Streater.
Mayor e. V. Waters said that
there is only one way to do in order
to obtain the desired results and that
Is to stop talking and act. Like III"
former speakers, Mayor Waters said
that he believed in a combined build
ing where all civic bodies might meet
under the same roof with the mill
tary units. He though that the bond
ing of the city for the necessary $75.-
600 which would permit of the city
having share in the building, would
meet with little opposition. Mayor
Waters believed in action before it
Is too late.
F. J. Sperry wanted to know If the
bonding of the city for the proposed
community building would not int"
fere with school appropriations. o."