The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-09-04
Pleasant Meeting Of the Drivers
Held at the SauIpaueh
Last Night.
Subject of Highway Betterment
Is Discussed BY Several
Gentlemen.
Dr.. Card Advocates Necessary
Legislation; Some Plans
For Future.
From SATURDAYS Daily.


From SATURDAYS Dailv
A meeting of great Importance to al
automobile drivers, as well as to
those interested i'm good roads, was held
by the Mankato Automible club at
the Saulpau9h last evening. Colonel
Frank NJ. Joyce, president and DR.
w. H. Card, secretary and treasurer
of the Minnesota State Automobile
association, were to have addressed the
meeting, but owing to a break down
with his machine. Colonel Joyce did
not arrive in time for the meeting
The meeting was called to order
by Mr. Holman, president of the
MankatO Automobile club, and after
an elaborate three course lunch had
been served, he called on Dr. Card for
a speech.
Spoke For Good Roads.
DR.. Card made a very stirring anC
able address, and he spoke upon the
good roads movement, and the necesi
ty of public legislation for the con-
struction and maintenance of public
highways, also suggested uniform
tax assessment for automobiles, and
that the revenue thus derived, should
be used for good roads, instead of be-
ing applied to the general fund, as
under the present law. He further
more advocated, that instead of the
employment of convict labor for the
manufacture of articles, such as bin
der Irvine, ETC., that the convicts
be employed in the building of good
roads. He recommended that a law
be enacted making it a misdemeanol
for reckless driving and also that a
uniform speed limit should be adopted
to read that automobiles should be
limited to reasonable rate of speed
and in case of dispute, to leave it to
the discretion of the court to infict
a punishment for driving too fast
He called attention to the proper post
ing of signs at public highways, and
he urged that the various clubs give
their attention. The doctor was very
earnest and sincere in his remarks
and were listened to with great atten-
ton.
Others Make Addresses.
Mr. E. w. Winship and DR.. A. B.
Stewart of Owatonna, who are both
officers of the Minnesota State Auto
mobile association, also spoke on good
RAIDS movement of what had been done.
and what still could be done, and
asked the cooperation of all automobile
drivers to that end. Messrs. Saul
paugh, Patterson and Rosenberger also
responded with a little talk on the
same subject. A very pleasant little
speech was drlivered by the popular
physician and surgeon of automobiles
of Mankato, Mr. VIM. Schwender. As
every physician has his pet prescrip-
ton, so Mr.. Schwender confined his
principally to his prescription, eff
teen minutes all around"
Mr.. Hohmann made short talk to
the members, and called their atten-
ton to the good work that had been
accomplished in the last few years, and
also urged that the secretaries of the
different clubs should notify the driv-
ers of automobiles, to respect the rights
of farmers and drivers of vehicles on
the public highways. If all drivers
will give good attentin to this, it will
decrease the antagonism to automo-
biles.
Those present from out of the city
besides Dr. Card, DR.. Stewart and
Mr. Winship were, Mr.. G. A. Merrill,
f. LaBarre. NJ. s. Alexander of DIVA
tonna and Mr.. Stevenson of Madelia.
DIR. Card and the OwatoRna visitors
left this morning with three large
touring cars for Minneapolis, where
they will witness the automobile hill
climbing contest today.
All automobile owners in the city
should join the local club as the funds
of the club are all used for improv-
ing the roads.