Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1893-01-13
GOOD ROADS CONVENTION.
Delegates Will be Present From All
. Parts Of the State to Discuss
!. Il the Matter
ADD Ess BY PRoMINET MEN
The Present System of Road Making
in Minnesota and that of
Other States. !.

convention to be held at st. Paul on |
January 25th and 26th is a commend
able one, and the taxpayers may
consider the money we'll spent.
There is nothing so much neglected
in this state as the roads. In travel
ing through our farming districts one
will see good substantial school and
town houses, and upon inquiry will
find large sum in the county and
town treasures, but in that same
locality Oh the country road his
wagon wheels will go down in the
mud to the hubs, and it is killing on
team to draw the empty wagon over
the road. The roads seem to be the
last thing that is given any attention.
The war for better roads, has just
commenced in this part Of the country,
for it is only within the past year
that anything has been done.
In New York, Pennsylvania and
other eastern states tn agitation
was started only few years ago
and the county roads are already
improved to marked degree.
In speaking of the matter the
Pioneer Press says:
minnesota has not been inactive
and on Jan. Is a state convention
will convene in this city to consider
the question of better roads and to
generally interest the people in the
movement. This work requires time,
for large proportion Of the people
have not the slightest idea Of what
constitutes a good road. Country
roads in Minnesota answer all
purposes in dry season, but in wet
weather they are wretched, and there
are few who ever expect to see them
different. When the people are
shown that good reads are possible in
all seasons and can be made as cheaply
as bad roads, they will begin to take
an interest in the question. Those
who are back Of the movement in this
state expect only to lay in this
convention the foundations of a great
; work. Eventually the Legislature
: will be asked to pass a measure
looking toward the improvement Of
t the Minnesota roads, but none will be
introduced this winter, The con,
l vention will probably ask the
, legislature to appoint committee OF
7 commission to secure the information
| and data to enable them to frame 8
, bill to be introduced two years
, hence"
The leader in this movement is the
5 League of American Wheelmen. The
f matter has also been agitated by the
press, and finally a meeting vas callec
for January 25th and 26th.
: The following circular letter was
e., sent to all the county commissioner:
| in Minnesota:
: The Importance Of this movement
5 cannot be overestimated. The pub
lie sentiment in favor of road reforn
t is profound and universal. but as tC
| the exact methods and ways anc
S means it is all at sea, and brings nc
} practical influence to bear anywhere
, The convention should be entirely
nonpartisan. Select your best men
without regard to party, and do no
overlook enterprising, intelligent
farmers. Carefully prepared ad
dresses will be delivered and the diff
| ferent phases will be discussed by
members of the convention. A more
detailed statement of the plans Of the
convention will be sent to the dele
gates as soon as their names are re-
ported. The names aud addresses o
delegates are to be reported to A. B
Choate, 430 Temple Court, Mime
apolis.
"Under the present system of roat
, making in Minnesota,"s lays the Ponce
Press land in fact almost every othe
state Of the Union, there is useless
expenditure of large amount Of moi
ey annual y and great outlay o
mlsdirected labor. Each township
has its own pathmaster or road super
visor, and although his salary is small
the annual amount paid to roadmast
Ell. is very large. Minnesota has TO-,
600 of such officers, an annual ex
pense to the state of $4,000. Eacf
| farmer is allowed to work out his owr
road tax, and any person who has
ever witnessed the construction of :
country road knows we'll that the
farmers labor, while we'll intend led
would be dear at any price, because
not intelligently applied. Even Thu
labor and money would be we'll spent
if the road was Of any use when built
| The dirt is thrown into the middle Of
the road, and perhaps leveled and
. rolled, but the first severe storm will
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