The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-03-20
Rapidan Farmer Declares That Cow
Paths Are No Good.
Shauld Build Highways So They Can
Accommodate An Vehicles.
Another RaPidan Resident Has Some.
thing to Say About Roads.
Believes In Doing Something to Ac-
commodate Greatest Number
From Wednesdays Daily.

f. NJ. Griffith, a well-known farmer of
Rapidan, called at The Free Press office
today and expressed himself very strong
ly in favor of good roads, He stated that
the days of the cow paths leading to the
city should be brought to an end.
These roads are not only dangerous
but they cost more to keep
in good condition than good roads
would. The threshing and thac-
ton engines are here to stay. Roads
should be constructed so as to accom-
modate them. Also the automobile is
here and it has also come to stay. Pre-
ildice will not drive it from the list of
ehicles used by the human family.
Mr.. Griffith declared that there is room
for reform in the method of road work.
He believes that poll taxes should be
paid in labor, but that labor should be
performed properly and the roads i'm
proved under the direction of the county
surveyor.
The Free Press is in receipt of the
following from "a Country Storekeep-
er:"
by good roads convention not only caus-
ed the reporter of The Review to look
around for good roads but the people in
Rapidan as well. The writer of this
article has no idea of trying to lay a
straw in the way of this new proposed
Strand ravine and Red Jacket bridge
project; on the contrary is in favor OF
putting bridge wherever needed and as
speedily as our county funds can be ad-
justed to meet the expense. But we be-
lieve to 60 at it fair to the greatest num-
Der of people and to procure the most
good for the least money. A year ago
4 large petition was sent in to the
county commissioners containing sigma
lures to the number of some three hum
dred. 1t was secured, if possible, the
consideration of the commissioners to
the building bridge over the ravine and
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul rail-
road tracks three-quarters of a mile
north of the Rapidan postoffice. 1t is
to the building of this road and bridge
that we take exception against the new
proposed Red Jacket bridge road. We
leave to the majority of the voters in
Rapidan and Lyra townships to say
which bridge is wanted more and also
which is now and will be in the future the
main road from Good Thunder through
Rapidan to Mankato. Anyone at all
posted will find the greatest number of
farmers all through the central and west
ern part of Rapidan; some in Lyra and
certainly Good Thunder being six miles
straight south of us will come this way
as is Garden City coming this way now.
Why all of these people should want to
90 over to Strands ravine and come
back to within half mile of the straight
road north of Rapidan is conundrum to
us unless it is to ride on the boulevard
constructed for the people that drive
for pleasure in Strands ravine. What
the majority of our people in Rapidan
want is bridge as petitioned across
the mill tracks. A one-span bridge cost
ing one-half the amount of the Red Jack
ct bridge will do and if an effort is
made the railroad company will do their
share. This will give the greatest num-
Der a road to Mankato with no hills at
all to climb when the road has been
changed around Keenan's hill. Why
should this improvement be laid aside for
the Red Jacket movement? Why should
we expend ten or fifteen thousand dol
lars practically in this way-after we go
down a ravinef Let us 60 down three
fourths mile hill at the end OF which
is a bridge. We will now expend ten
to fifteen thousand dollars, make the
same number of miles and same num-
Der of hills and before we get to Man
kato Join in the old road we started
ON. Let us build all the new roads and
BRIDGES we can, but it will be well to
consult the wishes of the people at large
and when this is done we can commence
to build bridges for individuals regard
less of cost. And when that time is
here that we can contribute SO many
thousand for few men in improved
road work, then will Sears, Robeck and
Montgomery Ward & Co. as well as the
country store keepers lock up shop.