The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-01-17

is shame and disgrace to our city
for which there is no excuse. If the
money which is now spent on our
back streets were paid for hauling
gravel they would all be graveled in a
short time and would be passable the
entire year. AS a proof of this we
need only refer to ST. Peter and Win
dom and our own Glenwood avenue
Fifth street will add another proof
when spring comes.
| For streets the graveling should be
heavier and wider than for country
roads and it might advantageously be
packed with a roller. In Chicago.
out in the region of the Worlds Fair
grounds, such streets are being con-
Structed and seem to be durable
| They must, OF course, receive yearly
attention, but the repairing is not eX-
pensive. The thing that might be
used for our back streets is macadam,
but in the present condition of our
city it is too expensive and but little
more desirable than gravel.
For our business streets | would
consider but two things and those are
paving with brick or asphalt, either of
which can be swept and kept clean.
Each has it's advantages and disad-
vantages but they seem to be the only
practical kind of paving at present.
and the kind that our foremost cities
are adopting. l need not enter into
| the method of construction of such
pavements, for you are all familiar
with them.
To sum up, it can be said that the
| most practical country road for the
people of southern Minnesota is that
constructed of gravel because of its
cheapneSS, the abundance of the ma
terial, the fact that the cost of its
first construction is not greatly in eX-
cess of the amount that is now spent
on the dirt roads, and that the far
mer can with the use Of his team pay
his assessment on such a rOau, and
not be out any money. 1t has also
been demonstrated in other states
that the price of the land along such
a road has increased much more than
enough to pay the assessment for
building the same.
For MankatO it would seem that
every back street should be neatly
graveled at once, either at the ex-
pense of the city at large or by special
assessment, which work would GER
tainly enhance the price of property
enough to equal the taxes or assess
ment. On the business streets either
paving with brick or asphalt should
be begun as soon of possible, for with
out it MankatO will never become a
city.
The many advantages, including
the educational influence, of good
roads and streets l leave to Mr.. Flittie
for discussion.
Mr.. ]. A. Flittie spoke of the adj
vantages to be gained from good roads.
He alluded to the bicycle as factor
in securing better roads, and thought
that in this respect at least, it's in
vention had been blessing. He
spoke at some length upon the saving
which would result from good roads,
and of the hundreds of accidents for
which bad roads are responsible, and
the many other discomforts which
come from bad roads. Good reads. he
said, were an aid to education, be-
cause there were hundreds of child
rem in this state who cannot get to
school as much as they and their
parents desire, because of wet and
muddy roads. Good roads tend to
socialize any community. Out of
them will issue the extra vim to So
cial life and to domestic trade and
commerce. He referred to what the
Romans did in the way of road build
ing, the results of which lasted CEN
turies and said what the Romans did
we can do, and do it cheaper, better
and more scientifically. He thought
that into no better field could the
convicts of this country be turned
than that of road building. Good
roads come high, but we must have
them and they are always good in
vestment. On a signboard not far
from Mankato, he said, was the fol-
lowing inscription. In the spring
six miles of muddy road to Eagle
Lake. Such greeting makes every
traveller shudder, but it describes
the condition of our roads perfectly.
Let's change it, so that by easy roads
we may travel far"
The discussion which followed was
very generally INDUCED in by the
members present. Mr.. f. M. Currier
gave his experience in road making.
and thought but little of permanent
value could be accomplished under
the present system. He believed
that the road tax should be paid in
cash, and expended under the direc-
tlon of the town authorities. In this
manner two or three men and teams
would accomplish more good and per-
manent results than is now the case.
for the same money.
County Commissioner Hannay was
present and was called upon for his
experience. He spoke at some length
and referred to the use of gravel.
Said he had seen it tried on several
pieces of road of considerable length.
where heavy coatings were put on.