The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-08-19
GLENWOOD AVENUE WORK.

Ever since the work of improving |
Glenwood Avenue commenced last |
fall, this work has received the COM
mendation of the hundreds OF people |
who drive over that much travelled |
thoroughfare. 1t was new depart
ure in our street making and was for
while regarded as somewhat of an
experiment. This spring, however,
during the long rainy spell, it was full
ly demonstrated that this road will be
one of the finest in the city or county,
while hitherto it has been almost i'm
passable during wet weather. The
gravel solidif1ed and formed a hard,
dry roadbed, when at either end a
loaded wagon would sink into the
clay almost up to the hubs. So sue
cessful did the road prove that the
original plan for continuing the work
to the culvert across Warren's creek,
at Fifth street, was undertaken. This
work is now well on toward compile
tion and magnificent gravel roadbed
has been put in, which in another
year will be as hard as macadam. The
narrow places have been widened and
one or two little knobs cut down.
This was the status of the work up to
Monday night.
The council voted to have the width
of the graYeling reduced and to stop
work upon the cuts. Had not large
subscription been raised by private
parties, conditional upon the city's
work, it is more than likely that all
work would have been stopped. Why
the council should at this time have
ordered work to be curtailed is incon-
ceiyable. 1t surely cannot be upon
the score of expense, as the same body
at the same meeting, against the pro-
visions of the charter, awarded a large
contract to the highest bidder taking
out of the city treasury without ex.
cuse 500 to $3.50 in excess to what
was necessary.
The citizens of ssMankato are proud
of the improvement upon Glenwood
Avenue. 1t is the only street that
has been Systematically and 1ntelli-
gently improved. The street is more
travelled by our citizens than any
other two streets leading from the
city, and a sacredness pertains to it as
being the only avenue to the beauti-
| fully preserved City of the Dead be-
yond. Farmers from large part of
the county bring in their heavily load
ed wagons down this ravine. To now
stop the almost completed work is
foolhardiness and meets with the gen.
eral condemnation which it deserves.
| We have not heard a single person
speak of this action of the council ex-
cept in adverse criticism.
The work was undertaken through
the earnest efforts of Alderman, Hub
bard, and he has displayed commend
able interest in it's progrc.o. Wnlle
by no means seeking to be dictatorial
or usurp the duties and privileges of
| the street committee, his suggestions
have been followed by Inspector Hal
stead, who has done excellent service
there. Instead of condemning Mr..
Hubbard in his absence, the remain
der Of the council should heartily CO.
operate with him and complete the
street as intended. Public interest
demands that it shall be so, and pub
| lie sentiment is so crystalized in favor
thereof that Indignation will run
high unless the council shall recon
slider the action of Monday night and
complete the work in the magnificent
way it was started and has been con-
tinued to date.