The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-03-11
oommendable and certainly is a step to-


fyard accomplishing some of the sug-
gestions made in this paper. l confess
do not know what is wrong with our |
markets, why our buyers have to pay |
less than they do elsewhere. l merely
assert that they do pay less and l hope
by showing this fact it may stimulate
some activity among members of the
board of trade, SO that they may cause
this condition to be investigated and give
us all their reasons therefore. Let us
find out why it is necessary that this
condition of things must prevail"
Mr.. Lossow's remarks relative to good
roads led to the presentation of the re-
port of w. A. Funk who represented
the board at the recent Good Roads State
convention held at st. Paul. Mr.. Funk
said he was surprised at the sparse at
tendance at this good roads meeting.
There were not more than thirty there.
Many of those speakers who were to de-
liver papers did not show up at all.
George W. Cooley of Minneapolis, presl-
dent of the Minnesota Good Roads asso-
citation and surveyor of Hennepin coun-
ty, probably the best authority on road
making in the state, made several very
excellent addresses and was in fact
almost the life of the meeting. The con-
| vention discussed among other things the
bill for special state road tax, the bill
that was pushed through the senate by
the efforts of Senator Eberhart, but was
hopelessly defeated in the house by the
rural vote, representing the very people
whom the bill sought to benefit most,
though the tax would have fallen harder
on the twin cities than any gain they
would get would compensate for. The
main thought running through the en-
tire meeting was that if system of
good roads could be gotten started here
and there the farmers would see how
nice it is to have such roads and would
thereafter lend the movement their hear
ty support. Many farmers. seemed to
have a ridiculous idea that the city
people are anxious to have good roads
simply so they can run their automo-
biles over them.
Mr.. Funk went on to relate how he in
troduced resolutions declaring in favor
of the abolition of the road labor tax
and the substitution of money tax in
its stead; also declaring for the enlarge
ment of the road districts so that it
would be an object for a good capable
business man to accept the position OF
road overseer, and put in his whole time
at that work and nothing else. The re-
solutions were adopted. The convention
also Endorsed the proposed measure now
pending in congress for national aid
for such communities as levied special
road tax up to a certain figure. Dele
gates were elected by the convention to
attend the national convention On good
roads to be held at st. Louis. Senator
Eberhart, F. w. Lossow and w. A. Funk
were chosen to represent Blue Earth
county.
Mr.. Funk commended the paper of
| Mr.. Lossow. Mr.. Funk did not believe
there was as much Mankato capital in
vested as there should be in the grain
buying business here. If more Mankato
capital were invested here in that way,
there would be stronger incentive to
keep up the grain market in. good
shape. He would like to see two or
three large grain buyers here, all operat-
ing on Mankato capital, and competing
with each other.
DR.. Andrews remarked that some time
ago committee of which he was a
member was instructed to look into the
question of the Mankato markets and
found that Mankato's own markets were
the best in point of prices paid. The
committee found that as a rule the
Mankato buyers paid more for farm
produce than was paid at st. Peter. Mr..
Lossow replied that his statements were
based directly upon facts. The expert
ence of his own brother gave him some
of his main data. In Mankato the farm
er he said was often given lower
grade than elsewhere.
Mr.. Currier said he had made it his
business to sell wheat for many years.
He had had experience like that describ-
ed by Mr.. Lossow. The grade trouble
came when there was poor crop. Two
years ago the crop was uniformly good
and there was no kicking. The grain was
tolerably uniform and prices received
by the farmers were about uniform all
through this part OF the state. Last
wear the crop was very poor and great
deal of grading was done. Difference IN
grading at different points caused con-
tinual kicks.
The committee appointed to advertise
the Farmers Institute, to be held at
Mankato March lS and 10, consisting OF
Mr.. Taylor and Mr.. Currier, reported
that the matter had been thoroughly adj
vertised. A thousand posters had been
put up through the country and cir
culars had been sent to all the farmers
and creamery men who were likely to de-
sire to attend. The institute had been
we'll advertised and it would be strange
if the attendance did not prove good.
Mr.. Hughes called the attention of
the board to the measure now pending In
congress proposing to amend the inter-
state commerce law. Whether the bill