The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-11-16
SPOKE OF MANKATO
GEORGE ATCHLSON TALKS
ABOUT HOME CITY
Real Estate Operator Deals In
Eloquenee While Discussing
Enterprisina Community

Speaking from the viewpoint Of a
real estate dealer on conditions in
Mankaro, George Atchinson adj
dressed the Kiwanis Club In this city
yesterday as follows:
Il have been asked to deliver q
talk to you about Mankato from the
standpoint of an operator in real es-
tate, and what really think of the
City and its prospects for the future,
and a few things relative to the
early history of Mankato. A few en-
terprising New York Yankees found
ed Mankato in 1852 at the fork of
ers. These first settlers We're good,
substantial citizens and their des-
cendants are good citizens still.
When Winona, st. Peter, New Ulm
and other Southern Minnesota cities
were thriving villages, Mankato was
but the meeting place of the two
rivers. Today it is the meeting place
of Southern Minnesota and q large
slice OF the earth. It is now a con-
ventfon City open to the people Of
America. Even Greeks have met
here and opened restaurants. Only q
few months after Mankato was
chartered as a city in 1868, 1t be-
came Southern Minnesota's best
town. The same rapid progress has
been noticeable ever since, until to-
day, as in the days Of ancient Rome,
all roads lead to Mankato and the
multitude of visitors are always
welcome when they come to look us
over. For many Miles out Of the city
Of Mankato in every direction we
have $50 road signs, all pointing
Mankato. When the traveller sees
these signs he wants to come and
look US over and see why we adver-
tise. When he does come he finds
that Mankato Is an enterprising IT.
tie city. is the center of the greatest
agricultural country in the world
and the Metropolis of Southern
Minnesota and that within its COR
porate limits, embracing square
miles, live $1,000 people, q few law
yers. flock Of politicians and a
"Mankato is large commercial
center It has thitteen jobbing hous-
es, employing Asa people; thirty fac
tories, employing 2100 people, and its
transportation facilities will attract
many more. Its four railroads, send
out forty trains daily, carrying orr
merchandise to all parts Of the
world. 1t is also the greatest edu.
cational center in any town Of its
size in America, having IL schools
and colleges-two high schools and
ten grade schools of different kinds.
which are educating 5000 pupils
daily. 1t is'a publicity center, having
six publications mailing out over
$4,000 copies monthly educating the
people to be Good Americans and
giving them the latest news Of the
world.
Radiant is the sunshine of Man
kato's hospitality. Nowhere in the
wide, wide world is IL excelled. So
far has the fame of our hospitality
spread that last year alone 5000
convention visitors came to- our.
City. and when they left were ten
years younger, fifty years wiser and
but few cents poorer for having
met our people, lived in our four no.
tells and fourteen rooming houses.
attended our four theatres. wor-
shipped In our eighteen places Of
Worship, played on our Golf Course,
roamed over our ftfty-f1y miles or
over our $50 miles of gravelled
county roads and through our Ave
public parks, containing sixty-flv
and quarter acres. looked over our
famous Minneopa Walls, shopned in
our splendid stores. breathed our
optimism. filtered our scandal ana
sensed the purity Of our politics.
Mankato leads in morality. Ten
years ago 1t was Wine. Women and
Song,-today it Is your own wife
and community work.
"Mankato leads in home owner
shin The federal government tells
us that Mankato has home owner
ship of fifty-five per cent, the
greatest percentage OF any town in
the state. Picturesque is the archi-
lecture of dur buildings and bridges.
Thousands Of dollars are being
spent in the construction of homes
and business buildings. This build
ing is not being talked about, but Is
actually being done. 1t consists OF
the finest store buildings to the
modest workman's cottage, lit such
buildings and homes were alone
erected In 1922.
Mankato need not be extolled. ss
it speaks for itself. But let me tell
you--Menketo covets visit from
all people. We want them to know
our thriftiness, our hospitality, our
generosity, and our civic pride, all
OF which goes TO make the spirit
which has built Mankato from
mere village to a thriving, throb-
hing city. This same spirit will in
ten wears make Mankato "A City of
10000 people" &.
.
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