The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-05-25

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ago. The lower house of the legislature
is composed largely of farmers who will
see that no such laws will. go through.
There should be a Mankato man in
the house to look after our interests.
| DR.. Andrews said that he has been
surprised at the change of opinion that
has taken place among the farmers
during the last two years. They now
want the present road system abolished
and direct taxation substituted. The agi-
tation has done good The cost of ma
cadamizing or crawling the roads is too
great to make this practicable. 1t
would cost a million dollars to improve
the roads of Blue Earth county in that
manner, considering our soil. If the
roads are looked after when the rains
are over and dragged and rounded up
they will be good nine or ten months in
the year. At present the ruts are left
and rains fill them full and the water
soaks in deep, making the road impass-
able If rounded up, large part of
the water would run off. Even macad-
amized roads need looking after. Fifth
street Us already getting rutty. The
railways have men constantly at work
on their roadbeds.
| Roads Need Crawling
DR.. Schmauss took issue with DR.. An
drews on the subject of crawling the
roads, and declared that there would
never be good roads until they have
been graveled. River gravel helps much,
but there is plenty of gravel in the hills
| if we look for it. The farmers of this
county pay thirty-five per cent of the
taxes, and the city of Mankato fifty
per cent. If the farmers put the time
that they now put into working the
roads into hauling gravel for them 1T
would do some good. Macadam costs
too much. The farmers say that the
worst roads are in Mankato, and those
on East Main street and GlenwOod av-
enue are the worst. The care of these
and other roads is very largely matter
of drainage.
Mayor Taylor said that he did not an
ticipate that these roads would be as
bad again. The council is trying to have
them drained. realizing that good roads
cannot be maintained unless the drain
age is kept up. The trouble on Glen
wood avenue was due to the lack OF
drainage. An important matter for the
club to take up is the hill across the
river. Much trade is lost to the city
on account of it. A survey for a new
road was made several years ago.
Mr.. Patterson thought this a very i'm
portant matter and well worth consider
alton, and he moved that a permanent
good roads committee of five be APP
pointed to hear complaints and see what
can be DONE This was carried.
| cannot De OHuclSlUOu.
A letter from E. L. Tobie was read
in which he expressed thanks for the
clubs offer to assist in getting the Du-
luth. st. Cloud, Glencoe & Mankato
road into Mankato, but said that the
road had no intention to make a prop
osition to enter Mankato.
Present Hixon said that he had an
swered the letter expressing his surprise
at its contents, and saying that the club
would be glad to receive any reasonable
proposition and was glad to assure the
assistance of the club. He had received
no reply to this. He did not know
what more could be done and asked for
suggestions.
DR.. Webster suggested that the Sec
rotary 60 and see Mr.. Tobie at Al
bert Lea.
| Mr.. Stein said that he had seen HUI
had informed him that after the vote
on the $4,000 bond proposition in Nc
Pherson Thursday if it carried, they
would come to Mankato. 1t would be
possibly two weeks before they come.
DR.. Webster said that it was absurd
that the club be absolutely in the dark
about the road and moved that the Sec
rotary 90 and see Mr.. Tobie.
Wanted to Let Matter Rest.
DIR. Andrews counseled to let the mat
ter rest, as he doubted whether the sec
rotary would get satisfaction if he went
to Albert Lea unless it was learned
that the road was going elsewhere. He
thought Mankato the natural place for
it to come.
DIR. Schmauss said that the company
may be playing a diplomatic game, in
which case it might do harm to appear
over anxious. 1t would be best to wait
a few weeks. eff the company thinks
that we are scared it will pinch us that
much harder" said the doctor.
Mr.. Hixon was inclined to this view.
and said that the company has good
| 10 a. ,bof