The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-03-20
After "a Long Wrangle the
Simple Resolutions are
DisembOweled.
Trouble i'm Selecting a Per-
manent Committee and
Delegates.
The Old, Old Story of Rival
nv Between Country and
City is Renewed.

The good roads convention has been
a greater success than anybody an
ticipated. Fully two hundred people,
mostly farmers from nearly every
part of the county, were present, and
the seating capacity of the hall was
not great enough to accommodate all.
Those present were earnest in their
desire to get at the solution of the
question of good roads, and it was a
business convention from the start to
finish, bringing out very desirable
exchange of ideas. The speeches
were good and practical, and much
good must result from the convention,
although at this afternoons session a
spirit was manifested which at first
might well tend to discourage the
most ardent advocate of good roads.
1t was a farmers convention, the city
purposely stayed in the back ground,
and it became lively enough to suit
the most sensational
The convention was called to order
at 1920 a. m. by M. B. Haynes, and
Gen. Baker nominated Joseph Dobie,
of Sterling, as chairman, which nOml-
nation was endorsed by the conven-
ton. Prof. Matter acted as secretary.
Mayor Weaver was to have given
the address of welcome, but he was
absent and the program was at once
proceeded with, and County Commits
isioner A. M. Hannay was introduced,
and spoke upon the subject of 1.-THE
value of good roads to the farmers.
He said that he considered the sub
ject an important one. Roads are for
the purpose of enabling us to live
social lives, and transporting our pro-
duce to market. Everybody, no mat
Ser what his occupation, should feel
interested in the subject. Agricul-
ture in the east has for years been on
the decline, as nature has not been as
lavish to the farmer there as here,
but in Massachusetts 100000 was
spent by the state in 1894, $780,
900 for the year and for this
year $500, 900 has been set aside. The
consequence has been that new life
has come into the agriculture there,
and the farmers are delighted. For
every $1,000 of state money, $1,000
must be raised by the county and
town. In our own county, the
transporting of milk to creameries
is serious question in bad
weather, when the roads are slop-
by and filled with ruts. This is but
one item, for there is the wheat, oats,
barley, etc f, to be transported. The
roads are our masters, and allow us to
do only so much, and exact large
tribute from us. We cannot depend
on good weather, but must take it as
it comes. If we could always be sure
of carrying SO bushels instead of 25,
100 instead of so, we could figure out
money advantage, which gives good
roads an economic value to the far
mers of Blue Earth county.
There is the social side. The far
mer has fixed no fine home. salts
faction to ali his desires. and intended
for his permanent home. But when
he gets into the highway, with his
buggy and his family in their good
clothes, he realizes during bad wealth
or what bad roads are. There are
many farmers who live on side roads,
off the main lines of travel, and to
their families it is curiosity to see
people pass. The children grow up
awkward, with lack of refinement
from sociability. They are good
folks, but they go through life
handicapped. and show the
want of good roads in bringing them
into contact with the world. The
trouble with us farmers is that we
are afraid of roads. These same peo-
pie, if a main road is put through
their farm will be chan ed. Then
what a feeling of security and indie
pendence follows upon living on
good road. We should live up to our
privileges in the matter of good
roads.
Gen. Baker moved for committee
on resolutions, Geo, M. Palmer to be
chairman, and each township repre-