The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-03-20
sented to name member. This was

| LOTlu OIdy UuOu SpOhS oPoA ouN
subject, "What can we do under
present laws, and what changes are
desirable?" He exhaustively review
ed the road laws of the state, from
the territorial period to the present.
The care of the roads falls largely on
the town supervisors, as it did in 1866,
and the same is substantially true of
the villages. For forty years we have
considered the laws good enough, or
we have slept while we have been pro-
gressive in many ways, so as to eX-
cite the admiration of our
neighboring states; we have
slumbered on the road question, but
we are now showing symptoms of
waking up to the necessities of
the situation. In some towns
the roads are expensive to
maintain by few taxpayers, and
the county can appropriate money to
aid main roads in such cases. The
laws about drivewayS in parks, shows
that the legislature has awakened to
the Importance of pleasure driving
on our roads, as well as other driving.
Are the laws wanting in regard to
the means and methods of improving
our highways? 1 am slow to put off
well worn garments and am opposed
to casting off present laws. We are
suffering from too much law. The
best laws are frequently written in
the smallest books. Frequent changes
make unrest, and are of doubtful ben
eft. The poll tax law should not be
enl arged We now prefer to pay
money rather than labor, and if this
law is to remain in force, the old law
should be revised, to punish those
who do not work in earnest. 1t is a
question whether the poll tax should
not be repealed. The laws cover al
most every point in regard to roads.
The state, county, towns and villages
may appropriate to aid in i'm
proving the roads, and sufficient
means are at hand to enable a
progressive people to have good
roads. The money is largely to
be expended under the supervisors,
who are best qualified by experience
to know what roads need improve
ment, how to do it, and are nearest to
the people who have such vital in
tereSt in the roads. The best work is
generally done by the local authori-
ties. We need not delay active pro-
secution of public work for the pas
sing of friendly or the repeal of I'M
friendly laws.
j. E. Brown, of Mapleton. then
spoke upon "What good roads will do
for towns and villages" He was glad
to see so many farmers present, two
thirds of the audience being from the
country. He favored roads that could
be relied upon during wet weather,
for use in hauling to market. There
are few farmers in the county who
are obliged to haul their product
over nine miles, and we are drifting
out of wheat raising to produce more
easily handled, so that the dread of
bad roads is not so much as it was. All
will agree upon the desirability Of
good roads, although we may differ in
details. Nature has been liberal to
us in many ways, but snot in
the way of material for good
roads. The time has not
come to build stone or gravel roads as
in the east, but we should leave this
to the next generation, which we will
hope will not be taxed so heavily as
the present. We should improve our
roads with the material at hand, and
it can be done. The disadvantages of
the present system are great, and It'll
should be kicked over 1t is strange
that so few towns have adopted the
new law, and the opposition comes
from tue farmers, who prefer to work
ing out their tax to paying for it in
money. The speaker read letter
from G.. N. Alderman, of Mapleton,
on the subject of 'live roads," favor
ing the use of willows in making a
foundation. Some farmers condemn
ed this, saying that the willows would
grow up at the side and not sprout in
to solid mass for road bed The
holding of good roads convention at
this time is inopportune, because for
four years we have had good roads
ManKato has not lost dollar in bust
ness on account of defects in the road.
In all probability, we shall have re-
turn of wet seasons, and we will then
know what to expect, but we are in a
better condition to meet them than
ever, on account of what has been
done. The old system should be
abolished, and the new law Sc
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