The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-01-17
y
Cause Of Good
Roads Given Boost
By, Commercial Club
CONTINUED From Page One.]

Important innings InaC the cruz can uH
dertake. He was sorry that the retail
merchants did not appreciate more
what is being done for them and them
alone, and turn out to the club
meetings and learn what is being done.
They have direct interest in the
work.
Mr.. Nyquist said that he was sorry
that the people of Mankato did not
take more interest. Mr.. Palmer was
doing great work. He is very
busy man, but is taking time from his
business to attend to road work.
Mankato will make mistake if it
does not help him along. 1t is not
very encouraging for a man to work
for people who do not take an in
terest in what he is doing for them.
Merchants Should Have Been Present.
Mr.. Palmer said that the retail mer-
chants do not realize the Importance
of the work, or they would have been
present at this meeting en- masse.
This year the Christmas trade had
come from further than usual, on
account of the good roads, but with
bad weather this would not have been
so unless the roads could have been
kept in shape. Mankato is surrounded
on all sides by villages that are
striving to keep the grain and produce
of the farmers from being marketed
in Mankato, and when the farmers do
not market in Mankato the local mer-
chants will not see their money. Bad
roads are an invitation to the farm
ers to keep away from Mankato, and
higher prices will not bring them to
the city. Inducements cannot be
made big enough to overcome the roads
The merchants do not realize how i'm
portant good roads are. Mr.. Palmer
said that he would like to know
what was intended for the committee
the present year, and if the work
was to be kept up the committee
must have some money. Mr.. Harris
suggestion was a good one, and the
Blue Earth County Good Roads as
ISOLATION would take it up.
Allan Jackson said that he favored
good roads for they aided commerce
and made the people happier and more
prosperous.
Mr.. Nyquist raised laugh by re-
marking that if John D. Rockefeller
would give few thousands for good
roads he would be more popular
around here.
Mr.. Palmer said that the commit
tee would not need over $3.50 to $780,
Part of it would be used to aid in
the improvement of the Belgrade hill
and part of it on the Minneopa park
road, although probably no more than
a start could be made on the park
road this year, as the county has no
money in the road and bridge fund.
Complimented Mr.. Palmer.
c. H. Saulpaugh complimented Mr..
Palmer on his good work and said
that good roads are benefit to ev-
cry citizen He would like to be one
of forty men to give $25 each and
turn the money over to Mr.. Palmer
to spend on good roads, for the money
would be well spent and would do
the city good. He was ready to make
this payment for five years.
Mr. Palmer said that it was true
that the money would do the city
a great deal of good. There ought
to be a good roads club in Mankato
with a permanent fund to work with.
Mayor Andrews spoke of the i'm
provement that has been made in the
roads, and urged specially the impor-
lance of using the road drag at the
proper time. Very often it is not
used soon enough and the ground is
too dry. He favored employing some
one to 90 out at the right time and
see that the work was done. 1t was
hardly fair for the two clubs to pay
for the work and not have it done at
the right time. The citizens cannot do
better than to raise money sufficient
to let the farmers know that they
mean business. He would be one of
the forty to give s25.
Mr. Jackson said that he thought
that he could get $25.
Messrs. Palmer, Willard and Nyquist
each agreed to be one of forty to
contribute $25.
Mr.. Saulpaugh moved that the sec
rotary be instructed to prepare sub
scription list and see what he can do
toward getting forty signatures. One
thousand dollars year would make
quite difference in the roads.
DIR. Andrews asked what was
thought of offering prize for the best
mile of road OH each of the five
or six principal road out of Mankato
Mr. Palmer favored it, but said
that last year it was thought best
not to use any of the money for that
purpose, as the funds were limited
Mr. Spencer moved that the club set
aside $500 for the use of the commit
tee on good roads, providing the $1,000
was not raised by subscription as pro-
posed.
Mr. Palmer said that if the com
.mittee had $1,000 to spend it would
push the work on the Belgrade hill.
This road would cost the township
t9 kO0 -rs,.