The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-10-28

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sawed off. The engine at time of ac
cident was running slow as was also
the bucket.
Verdict of the Jury.
The following is the verdict of the
jury:
THAT Hugo Heyn met his death al
the Rapidan dam in Rapidan town
ship, Blue Earth county, Minnesota
October "a, 1910. at AIS p. IN. by
having the false work and crib in which
he was working, caught and carried
away and dropped distance of sixty
eight feet, from the effects OF which
fall, SO inflicted, the said Hugo Heyn
then and there died."
G-~no Thursdays Daily.
The good roads meeting yesterday
afternoon was great disappointment
in the matter of the attendance, Blu,
not in the matter of the addresses
except that Louis w. Hill, president OF
the Great Northern railroad, could not
come. When the meeting opened
three-quarters of an hour after SEIZED
ule time, there We're tifty-fiye persons
present, including those from the city
There was a good deal of coming IL
and going out after that, but the audi
ence never exceeded seventy-fve at any
time, and dwindled down to a dozen
or SO at the end. The weather prob.
ably had something to do with this
but if there had been an auction some.
where in the country, three to five
times as many farmers would have
been present in spite of the weather
1t Is to be regretted that there was
not general turnout of the farmers
and more interest shown in the good
roads movement, for the farmers are
/ the chief beneficiaries of the move
ment. Their presence at the meeting
and the new ideas that they might have
gotten would have been worth more
than the dollar that they paid for
tickets. They might not at first have
agreed with all of the speakers, but
they would have heard things that
would have at least set them to
thinking.
| The band was present and rendered
several selections, which were greatly
enjoyed. George NJ. Palmer, chairman
of the good roads committee of the
Commercial club, presided.
George NJ. Palmer said that he was
sorry that the worst day of the season
had been selected for the meeting
which had cut down the attendance.
The weather could not be counted on
Mr.. Cooley's Address.
George w. Cooley, secretary Of the
state highway commission, spoke first
and said that ten years ago he had
found more enthusiasm for good roads
in this county than anywhere else il
the state, and there are many local..
ties today where there is great inter
est felt.
The highway commission has fund
now of $4,000, to distribute so that
counties get $500 TO l,500 each. The
counties getting it must put up s.
to the commissions 81, on roads desig.
mated as state highways. In states
having good highways the cost OF wagon
transportation is only one-half or one
third as much as it is in Minnesota
This reduces the cost of living that
much. The highway commission is non
partisan and unpaid, and has no choice
as to where the money goes, having no
favoritism between counties.
This is a growing and progressive
country and state, and the people will
demand as good a system of highways
as there is in the world. The Sean
dinavian countries have the best roads
in the world. The men are trained
to road construction from boyhood and
so know all about it.
Drainage Is Primary Idea.
1t is easy enough to build passable
roads, but difficult to make permanent
roads. In country like this, with a
heavy clay or vegetable SOIL the pri.
mary idea is drainage. There is nc
place having ideal drainage, but the
main thing is to get the water off OF
the road. This can be done by keep.
ing the road properly rounded up, by
the split log drag or other method
Great success has been met with in
making roads in the gumbo soil around
Crookston. A suitable plan of super.
intendence is necessary to secure good
drainage. One man i'll a township will
do much better than ten or fifteen
men dividing up the territory, and il
will cost no more. Our great mistake
has been in having too many bosses
The one man can be held responsible
| for results, which cannot be done wher
the responsibility is divided.
1t is out of the question to cxpec.
macadam roads to be constructed, a:
they cost $4,000 to $1,000 mile, ant
the people cannot stand it. The plar
| of the highway commission Is to snenc