The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-03-20
March 20, 1896.


first class road made under the pres
ent system. mean by a good road
one upon which you can haul two
tons any day in the year. A system
could not be devised that would make
worse roads necessarily follow. Nest
OF our roads are made up of patches
of bad roads and worse roads, accord
ing to the ideas of different men,
If there is bad piece of road, You
cannot haul to town more than will
go over that bad piece, the same as
the strength of chain is measured
by its weak link. A shiftless COM
munity should not be allowed to
spoil road that is elsewhere good.
The speaker ridiculed the way
many farmers work out their tax.
Good surface material is put on the
bottom and rich loan hauled on ton.
which is washed off, and hauled back
by the next crew. There is too much
reason for calling the working out of
the road tax the farmers annual pic
mic. 1t is no wonder that country
roads are no better. With an increase
OF thrift in spending our money,
good roads must result, in connec-
Glon with the greater revenue propos-
ed. The speaker closed by inviting
all to attend the good roads conven-
tlon at Minneapolis, where needed
legislation will be discussed.
Gen. j. H. Baker was introduced,
and spoke on the subject of poll
Tax" He opened by congratulating
all on the magnificent attendance,
which comprised the best element in
the county, and showed the general
interest being taken in the subject
We have arrived at the period here
when we should turn our attention
strongly to the subject of good
roads. This and all other good
roads conventions have been caused
by the desire of the farmers them
selves. 1t is useless to talk of the
necessity of good roads, as it is too
apparent to all, and / don't want to
let it 60 over to posterity, but want
to remain and myself enjoy the good
roads so much talked of in these lat
ter days in the newspapers and else
where. The Romans were masters
of the art of good road building,
which still remain as monument to
their wisdom, and IL is a sad common
tary on our intelligence that we have
no better roads. We ought to 60
somewhat slow as far as legislation is
concerned. We have a reasonably
fair system, taking the old law in
connection with the work of the last
legislature. We had better wait until
all this agitation will evolve a safe
and better system before entirely
overthrowing the present system.
The plan for road funds proposed by
Mr.. Choate can be successfully carri-
ed out, and when railroad commits
sioner, the speaker had argued in
favor of taxing these companies,
and he had prepared laws; but that
was as far as it went, for all laws get
about this far and some unseen
| force detains them. We must get at
the matter by sending safe men to
the legislature. The constitution
should be so changed as to permit the
legislature to do something toward
good roads. We can all meet for this
great common purpose, without par
tisanship. The thing now to be done
is to put in active operation the
force we now have. The Toadmasters
have not always done their duties
and the time has come to elect them.
If supervisor or pathmaster will not
do his duty, he should be thrownout
of office. Make them do their duty,
by the continued pressure of an in
telligent public sentiment. | would
improve the worst spots, instead OF
building out from the villages, the
spots which make us lose our religion
and morality. This will wipe out all
jealousy between city and town.
Then get rid of the water from the
roadway. Make the improvements
everlasting. But first, put the roads
where they ought to be.
The object of this meeting is to
set the ball rolling, and we want
permanent organization to carry on
the work. With such a meetings we
can devise some means of making
better roads for ourselves first and
our children next.