The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-01-29
Road Betterment Much Praised;
Work of the Farmers.
VALUE OF LANDS is INCREASED
George NJ. Palmer Greatly Pleased at
Genuine Enthusiasm Which Has
Been Displayed Of Late.
(tlOn Mondays Daily.

interested in the good roads movement
than George NJ. Palmer, who for several
years has been chairman of the good
roads committee of the commercial
club; and no one in this city has done
more to encourage highway betterment
than he. Mr.. Palmer is greately
pleased with the excellent work that
has been performed on the roads III
this vicinity of late, and today he eX-
pressed himself in the following Ian
guage.
"The farmers of this vicinity have
Just reason to congratulate themselves
on the advancement made in the matter
of good roads during the last two or
three years. The work of the CONNER
cial club has aroused great interest,
and very material progress has been
made, each year showing substantial
advance over that of the previous year.
The work of the King drag is recog-
nized as of the utmost Importance.
Roards are rapidly being graded up and
drained so that they can be kept III
very much better shape tnan ever be-
fore and at very small cost. A most
encouraging feature is that the farmers
are taking Il still further step and are
covering them with gravel, the very
best thing that can be done where
crushed rock cannot be obtained and
the latter is too expensive to enter
tain at present.
Improvement on Eagle Lake Road.
'When road is transformed from
one of the very worst to absolutely
the best in the county as has been
done on the Eagle Lake road, it shows
what can be accomplished. Farmers
have as yet not fully realized the
great value of good roads but they
are rapidly learning. The creamery bus
mess in this part of the state is as
Stunning great Importance. 1t neces-
states practically a trip to the cream
cry every day by almost every farmer.
When man can take his load of milk
to the creamery easily and quickly
over good graveled road, no matter
what the weather conditions are, it is
a very great Improvement over being
compelled to pillow through the mud
consuming possibly half day where
one or two hours would be sufficient
if the roads were good
''One feature that has not received
mucn attention is the increased value
of farms lying along a thoroughly
good and up-to-date road. Governor
Stubs of Kansas, in his inaugural
message, said The agricultural depart
ment at Washington has compiled data
from every civilized country showing
that the bad condition of our public
highways increases the cost of hauling
American products to market more
than 327 million dollars each year, as
compared with the cost on highways
like those maintained i'll France, Ger
many, England, and other countries.
This means more than five million
dollars loss in time and expense every
year in Kansas; but the financial loss
sustained because of bad roads is not
the most important consideration. Good
roads add to the comfort, convenience
md pleasure of living, especially i'll the
'ountry. The value of land in a com
nunity is increased more by permanent
Improvement of roads than the cost
of such roads. They facilitate the con-
solidation of country schools. Farm
products may be hauled TO market in
good and bad weather. Good roads
cost money; so do barns, houses, car
riages, farm machinery, and everything
that goes to make up the comforts of
life. 1t is not important how much
permanent road improvements will cost.
If the added value of the improvement
is largely in excess of its cost, tnen
the expenditure is justified and desir-
able. 1t is really a permanent in
vestment, bringing in good dividends.
Business Like View.
''This is thoroughly businessIike
view to take of the whole good roads
matter. When a farmer can add $40
an acre to the value of his land by
having the road past his farm thor
oughly graveled he is making money
rapidly out of the work he puts onto
the roads. There is no question but
what the farms on the Eagle Lake
road are easily worth $40 an acre
more on account of the first class road
leading to them and this same condition
will obtain on every main travelled
road leading out from this city. That
the farmers are beginning to realize
this is shown by the action of the men
on the Eagle Lake poor farm and Map.
Teton roads Heretofore men nave not
been willing to devote time to road
work without pay, but it is an actual
fact that men will receive much more
than ordinary wages in the increased
value of their farms.
Will Pay the Farmers.
Roads can be graveled in first class
shape or from $500 to $500 per mile,
depending upon the distance the gravel
has to be nauled. 1t will pay the
farmers living along any of the main
travelled roads to combine and gravel
these roads even if they do not re-
ceive one cent except in the increased
values of their farms
IF the farmers living on any main