The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-07-20
Matter Is Taken Up BY the
Commercial Club.
NEW LAW IS PROPOSED.
Macbeth and Gardner CONF plain Of
the Express Rates to Chicago,
Mlnneopa Park Deal.
From Tuesdays Daily.

One OF the important IHaIteIs laNei
ND by the Mankato Commercial club
last night was that of the good roads
movement Chairman Palmer of the
good roads committee reported
progress. The committee had
given away twenty road drags
and these will be in use on all OF
the roads leading into Mankato after
the next rain. Their work will show
that they are practicable. The improve
ment that has already been effected in
the condition of the roads is remarkable
After two or three more rains the roads
will be much better.
Good Roads Law.
H. f. Hance moved that "a committee
be appointed to draft good roads law
to be sent to the different commercial
clubs in the state for the purpose of re-
ceiving suggestions and agreeing upon
something to be presented to the next
legislature. 1t would be easier to get
such a measure through.
DR.. c.. j. Holman referred to an edi-
toral that he had read, favoring doing
away with the road and poll taxes and
the pathmasters, and having the work
done under the supervision of civil
engineer and the town supervisors.
Ia h. 10,
proposed by the state highway commits
sion.
Dr. G. r. Curran said that other towns
know more about road making than
Mankato. They are familiar with the
road drag and other things Get ten
miles out of the city in any direction
and the roads are better than in this
vicinity.
Judge Plymat moved that the matter
preparing the proposed law be referred
to the present good roads committee,
This was carried.
H. A. Patterson thought that the best
thing to do was to push what was being
done
Mr. Palmer said that for the first time
the good will of the farmers had been OBJ
tanned Heretofore they had opposed
every suggestion that had come from
the city. The present plan should be
continued. An early start should be
made next spring with the road drags,
ter than they are now. The cost will
only be few hundred dollars for the
whole year.
DIR. J. w. Andrews presented report
for the committee on Minneopa park
for fifteen acres had been $4,000. He
had as yet been unable to get an audi
his last letter was still unanswered. ''He
does not want the deal to go through
and is trying to kill it, declared the
doctor.
Tobie Denies an Interview.
Secretary Spencer read letter from
F. L. Tobie, received by President HiX-
on, replying to the latter's invitation
for him to meet with the club. Mr..
Tobie said that if he came it would be
merely to meet the members in So
cial way, for it would be waste of
his time and waste of oratory on the
part of the club members to try to get
the "Alphabet" road to run through this
CITY. 1t had been definitely determined
that the road was not to run through
this city. He denied having authorized
some statements attributed to him in
reference of the secretary of the Com
mercial club and his trip of inspection.
A letter from Macbeth & Gardner com
planning of the United States Express
companv's rate from Mankato to Chi.
cago on dressed veal and poultry, was
read by Secretary Spencer. The rate
is $l.50, while that from Mapleton, Min
nesota Lake and Good Thunder is Sips
Mr. Spencer said that he had taken the
matter up with the officials of the com
pany, who had refused to change the
rates because it occasionally took ship
ments through Mankato via st. Pau
to save time.
Secretary Spencer read letter from
the head of straw board manufactur
ing concern, saying that the territory
around Mankato is not large enough tt
warrant the starting of factory here
az the territory is over produced, Thu
prices low and no profit in the business
However, it was relocating several of it,
plants, and he asked whether the cit,
had any special inducements to offe
to get factory located here. He con
sidered the situation here good, excep
as to coal, but that would be offset b,
a saving in freight charges. A factor,
would take the farmers straw and turf
out fifty to seventy five tons day o
strawboard.
President Hiyon suggested that tn
club might do. as it had done in the cas-
oe tho trh factorv offer a site free wit