The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-03-04
AID TO BETTER ROADS.
MapIeton Business Men Hit Upon An
Oriqinal Plan.

UrlgInaI ran.
The rural mail carriers are interested
in securing better roads in that they
have to make daily trips over the high
ways no matter what the condition may
be. The patrons are interested in bet
ter roads in that they themselves desire
the routes continued and besides often
have reason to 20 to and from town
with heavy loads. Businessmen are in
terested because trade goes where the
roads are the best These facts being
true there should be union of forces to
secure better roads not only by individ-
ual effort but by legislative means.
In many counties good roads associa-
lions have been organized and consider
able enthusiasm aroused. All agitation
has its results, and as some one has
said: every cent reduction in the cost
of moving ton mile over the country
roads gives the farmer another cents
margin with which to meet competition
abroad" Resolutions are being adopted
urging upon our lawmakers to use their
influence and votes to secure some prac-
teal road legislation, government and
state aid.
In this community the businessmen
have hit upon an original plan for secur-
ing the improvement of the highways in
this vicinity. They propose to inter
est every free holder in the matter by
offering inducements to the individual
to keep the road in good shape along his
property. In an article published in The
Enterprise last November, James Nc
Laughlin offered ga $40 rocking or easy
chair to the man who made the best i'm
provement and smoothest road of not
less than half a mile in front of his
farm on any of the main and direct
roads leading to the village of Mapleton,
not more than six miles from it. Ex-
animation to be made and premium to
be awarded by three impartial judges be-
tween the 4th and 10th of July, 1904"
The Mapleton Milling company always
ready to encourage every good movement
offers $40 worth of shorts to the path
master within six miles of Mapleton
who shall have the best roads within his
district. Examination and award to be
made between June 18th and goth, 1904.
The Enterprise offers S. in trade, at
any store which advertises in its col
umns, to the pathmaster who makes the
best road through low places.
L. Troendle wants to see the east road
improved, and will give 100 pounds of
granulated sugar to the farmer who has
the best half mile of road in front of his
premises between the Gilmore place and
town.
Undoubtedly large number of other
prizes will be offered by the business
men as all are interested mutually with
the farmers in securing better roads.
The Enterprise will be pleased to pub
lish all offers made. Send them in at
once so that the new pathmasters ap-
pointed at the coming town meeting may
know that they have something worth
striving for this year in keeping the
roads in the best condition possible.
The good roads problem is many
sided one, and there are various ideas
upon the subject. Some are of the opin-
ion that satisfactory roads will never
be secured until road taxes are paid in
cash and the work performed by con-
tract, Systematically Mapleton Enter
prise.