The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-04-20
ROASTS THE BAD ROADS.
"One Who Is Interested" Calls At
tention to City's Bad Streets.

Mankato, April 10, 1906.-To the Edi
tor of The Free Press: Referring to
your editorial in yesterdays edition., |
wish to commend you for the space and
effort which you so frequently devote to
the cause of good roads. Keep on in this
unse1fsh and good work and l am sure
much benefit will result. Good roads
lie spirit of community. The shame
full conditions which exist here at pres
ent, and through which we also passed
three years ago, will do much to change
the prevailing sentiment and apathy and
in some instances-strange to say-even
opposition toward the permanent inn
provement of our country roads, and to
rouse at least some of the more prog
sive and public spirited to action, but no
decided and lasting results will follow
except through continuous and persistent
effort on part of our press. And all
those, interested III good highways hope
that our worthy country papers will fall
in line if they have not already done so.
The postofrice department would also
be doing favor and an act OF kindness
if it would strictly enfore its regulations
. in regard to the condition of rural
routes, i. e. suspend delivery for at least
| @o,, I,.,
such route becomes impossible as many
are at present 1t is inconceivable how
any sensible and fairminded person cam
not be in favor of so improving the high
ways that they will be passable at any
time of the year; that everyone will not
do all in their power to bring about
such desirable and beneficial condition.
But the fact is that there are many alb
, solutely passive and even actively OPP
posed to change of conditions which
would benefit them most directly. This,
however, is nothing strange. 1t is in
the peculiar and fallacious arguments
which those ultra conservatives Il don't
mean those actuated by pure stubbor-
ness and prejudice) advance in support
of their non-support of good cause. The
irrefutiblc fact remains, that no sound
and valid argument has been brought
forth as an excuse or in support of the
system and shameful conditions as they
have existed and are existing today with
, but few exceptions. Time and space
forbids to 80 into this matter in de-
tail at this time, or to elucidate on my
ideas how a permanent change for the
better can be brought about with but
little expense above the present, with
an outlay of labor and capital wholly
insignificant to the benefits derived
therefrom.
1t is only proper to say that reform
ers should being at home. When we,
as citizens of Mankato, wish to preach
the so-necessary, permanent improve
ment of our country roads, we must, be-
|
streets and in particular those leading
out into the country be permanently inn
proved, or, to say the least, be made pas
sible. This has not been the case nor is
it so today, and no one not having act
ually gone over the roads will realize,
in what shamefully and inexcusably neg
lected and dangerous condition some of
these streets or roads within our city
limits-notable Glenwood avenue and
no worse in the most neglected country
districts. About two o'clock last night
the little daughter of farmer living
several miles from the city became Sc
verely i'll. As the roads now are even
unsafe to travel in the day time the
father hesitatc.l to send for a physician
in the dark. He then walked to Mankato
because he could make better time on
foot, and procuring a team at a livery
stable, they drove out the st. Clair road
Zone of the worst in the country leav-
ing the city-now observe-not over
Glenwood or East Main street, but by
way of Guenther Hill, Rhine street and
one of the cross roads, Why this round
about and out of the way path? This
was not followed because they were tax
ing pleasure trip or because there was
time to spare 1.-THE child was in criti-
cal condition), but because the two be-
fore mentioned principal outlet roads of
this city are in such a condition, in sew
eral places, that it is either impossible
or unsafe to go through them. When the
doctor arrived at the house of the pa,
tient at six o'clock, she was in 4 hope
less condition. Similar instances could
be mentioned.
Now there is absolutely no excuse for
such state of affairs. If this city has
not AN official or officials to see to it
that its highways are at least kept in a
passable and safe condition, then it is
high time that proper steps are taken at
once. 1t is apparent that some one in