The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-08-24
THE QUESTION OF GOOD ROADS.

lie highways is attracting a great deal
of attention from the rank and file of
the people, who, if they are not MAX
ing any fuss about it, are giving the
matter much thoughtful study, and
that in the right direction. The most
hopeful sign of the campaign which
has been made for good roads, if the
fact that the mass of the people have
taken such interest in it. They have
been awakened to the value,of good
roads, and this has caused them to
study the present management, and
the great waste of money or it's equiva
lent which annually accompanies it.
A year ago last winter the snatter of
change was agitated somewhat, and
it was proposed that the legislature
make some change in the present
method, but it was finally concluded
best to postpone any action in the
matter until next winter, that it
might be more thoroughly examined
into and the people become more
thoroughly informed as to what was
the best course to pursue. This was
probably wise move.
An encouraging feature is the in
terest which is being developed among
the farmers, in securing some change
which will give them better and more
substantial roads for the amount they
annually eXpend in road taxes. 1t is
probable that no farmer in this Sec
tion has given the question more in
telligent study than has Hon. Fred
Lassow, of the town of Mcpherson.
He has watched closely the benefits
which are received for the outlay, and
has come to the conclusion that they
are not anywhere near sufficient, and
he is firmly convinced that under the
present system they never will be.
His reasons for this seem very practi-
cal, and are that under the present
system an intelligent plan of road work
which will look to the best interests
of the whole town is next to impoSsi-
BILE. This is not the fault of the men
SO much as the system. In the first
place it is expensive. The town is
divided into districts, each one having
to have an Overseer, who has to be
paid for the time he devotes to look
ing after the roads in his district.
Then the work is all done at one time
in the spring, instead of being scat
tered through the year to meet the
needs of the roads in their various con-
ditions. Again he finds disadvantage
in operating the new road machines,
which are coming into use everywhere,
under the present system. A farmer
has a few dollars tax to work out. He
is set TO operating the machine. Not
understanding it, he cannot handle it
to advantage, do as good work or as
much of it. In a day or two he be-
comes accustomed to it, and gets so
he can do good work and larger
amount of it, but just at that time he
has worked out his tax and stops, and
and new man takes his place to 60
through the same experience. And
so it goes.
Mr.. LasSoW advocates the changing
of the present system and having the
road tax paid in cash, and have the
roads of town put under the super
vision of one competent Overseer, who
shall expend the money for that pur-
pose under the direction of the town
board. He believes that under such
scheme fully as much benefit would
be realized from the expenditure of
800 as is now derived from possible
expenditure of 81, 800 under the pres
ent system, and it would be put where
most needed, and at the time of year
when wanted. In fact, he is fully con-
WINGED that IS cents under such sys-
tenn would do as much as 81 90 does at
present, and it is very probable that
even the most strenuous objector to
paying cash road tax would prefer to
pay so cents in cash and receive de-
cided improvement therefrom, to pay
ing 90 in work for the road he now
travels over.
1t seems to the FREE PRESS that
Mr.. LassoW's idea of the subject is
good one and worthy of consideration.
1t contemplates no radical change in
the method of road building, but
simply change in the present system
OF supervision and the payment of
road taxes in cash instead of in work,
thereby making it possible to do more
effective work. 1t does not contem-
plate the entering upon plan of solid
road building, the advocates of the
change believing that a matter of that
kind should be led up to gradually.
The matter, we are informed, will
be brought to the attention of the Re-
publican county convention, and the
FREE PRESS believes that body will
make no mistake if it instructs it's
legislative nominees to do whatever
lies within their power, if elected, to