The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-27
ROAD MAKING.
Mayor Petersen and Engineer
Thompson Return.
improvements in Macadam Road Build.
ing Standardization Is the Ma.
terial for MsnkatO Streets.

Mayor Petersen returned Sunday noon
from Buffalo, and City Engineer Thomp
son the same night. They attended
the international good roads congress,
and their time was very profitably
spent. They stopped off in Chicago,
and not only got new ideas about pave
ments, but also about sidewalk max
ing, narrowing the driveways, etc.
The city will benefit greatly from
their trip, as some of the improved
methods will be put into operation in
Mankato, resulting in better streets at
no more expense.
Mr.. Thompson will prepare full
report to be submitted to the council.
Mayor Petersen states that he was at
the congress nearly four days. Road
makers from all over the country and
also from Canada we're present, and
the Mankato men put in much Of their
time in exchanging ideas with indi-
viduals. One-haIf of the time OF the
congress was devoted to state aid in
good road construction and the ether
half to the question of how to make
good roads.
All of the eastern states extend state
aid in the construction of country
roads, and Minnesota must fall in line
before long, so Mayor Petersen thinks.
In New York, Massachusetts, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania, large
amounts of maoadam road are being
laid In New Work and most Of the
eastern states, the township pays ff;
teen per cent of the cost of construct
ing macadam roads, the county thirty
five per cent, and the state fifty per
cent, The macadam roadbed is made
twelve to sixteen, feet wide and six
inches deep. and gravel is spread on
the sides of the road out from the
macadam. The road beds are well
sloped, and the water runs off, leav-
ling them always in good condition.
| When a new road is wanted, the
township petitions the county for it,
and the county send the petition to
the state. If all are agreed, the state
sends surveyor to take the necessary
measurements. The construction is
done by the state, which has road
commissioner to have charge of all
road improvements. Wherever the
Mankato men went, they saw fine
country roads out from the railroad
stations. The farmers make great
saving by having good country roads
to travel on. 1t has been estimated
that they save enough between their
farms and the nearest towns to pay the
freight charges On grain. clear across
the ocean ..
/ Messrs. Petersen and Thompson were
convinced that 1acadam streets are
the best Cor Mankato. Asphalt is in
greatest favor in the cities, macadam
next and brick last. Not great deal
of brick paving was noticed, and it is
not popular on account Of the noise
Asphalt is considered the most fashion
able paving, but the way that mac
adam is, being laid it is- difficult to
distinguish it from asphalt, So mooth
and even is the surface.
The Mankato men secured figures on
macadaan paving from a number of
cities and learned that it can be laid
in, Mankato cheaper than anywhere
else, owing to all of the material being
found here. People with whom they
talked thought that this city is very
favorably located to have well paved
streets.
Messrs Petersen and Thompson saw
macadam road making in Buffalo and
ION an island in the river, and made all
lof the Investigations regarding it that
they could. They found that is makes
a durable pavement, we'll liked, and
easy to keep in repair Mr.. Thomp.
son secured specifications FOR this kind
of paving from the city engineer .oi
Buffalo, who was very courteous.
With these Mr.. Thompson will be able
| to make better nacadam streets in
Mankato than Front street is, at nc
more expense. The method of hand.
hing the materials, and particularly in
regard to, the surfacfng, has been
greatly improved.
Mr.. Thompson also secured specidca-
ti0ns from the city engineer at Buffalo
for making cement walks that are
much preferable to those being laid in
this city. In Buffalo and other eastern
cities, the cement walks are being laid
in large blocks, with the surface so in
dented as not to be slippery. The
method of making the blocks differs
from that followed here and they are
more, durable. 1t is expected that the
city will adopt the Buffalo speci6ca'
tions for walks as we'll as for paving.
Messrs. Petersen and Thompson saw
that everywhere the driveways on resi-
dence streets are being narr owed
down, and boulevards constructed. In
one city they saw street Travelled
more than Second street and having g
driveway only twenty feet wide. The
average width of driveways on resi-
dence streets is thirty to thirty-fiv
feet, being little wider where there
are street Car tracks.
MayorPetersen was formerly opposed
to narrow driveways, but is now g
convert and is enthusiastic for them.