The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-03-11
PALMER IS THANKED
CHAIRMAN OF GOOD ROADS COM
MITTEE MAKES REPORT.
Mankato Commercial Club at Annual
Meeting Expresses Pleasure at
Work Accomplished During Past
Year by Committee; Farmers Who
Volunteered to Give Time Also Re-
membered; Much Headway Made,
and More to be Done.

OCOl &c W. UllH Ol TIC
good roads committee of the Mankato
Commercial club, presented the follow
ing comprehensive report OF the work
of the club along that line the past
year, at the annual meeting of the club
last night:
Mankato. Mimi. March I. 1910
Commercial Club, City. Gentlemen:
Your good roads committee begs
leave to submit the following report
for the season ending March l.
We did not try to do any work in
volving the expenditure of money dur
ing the summer and fall of 1909 for
the reason that we were DESTROYS of
saving all our resources to aid in the
work of graveling roads during the
winter We were able, however, to
render some assistance to the road
oversecrs on the st. Peter prairie road
just north of the city. The over
secrs and farmers in that vicinity
were anxious to improve the roads, but
were unable to obtain any gravel
Through the efforts of your committee
permission was obtained from the Chi
cago, st. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha
Railway company to remove the gravel
from the right of way for road p,lr-
poses, and we were also instrumental
in securing the payment in cash of
nearly 800 of road taxes to be work
ed out under the direction of the over
seer Considerable work was done, and
am assured that the road will be
very materially improved by the use of
this gravel.
During the winter quite a good deal
of work has been done on seven of
the main travelled roads leading out
from our city. The amount of gravel
hauled and the cash contributed bv
this club Oh each road is as follows:
Lake Washington road, no yards of
gravel, $3.50.
Belgrade road, 800 yards of gravel;
no direct contribution, but this club
spent 1920 on labor in the river
gravel pit. This labor was performed
Tor the benefit of all farmers hauling
gravel irrespectisd Of destination.
Poll road, 700 yards, SO.
Mapleton road l,o3S yards, $34.5S
Poor farm road, 800 yards, $4,000
Eagle Lake road, LOO yards, 5000
Graft road, 100 yards, SO.
Total yards of gravel, Ills; amount
expended, $4lG4S.
The results accomplished, considering
the amount of money spent we think
are very large. OF course the farmers
have done most of the work, and we
desire to give them great credit for the
public spirit, and enterprise they have
shown in the matter of roaa improve
ments.
On the Mapleton road the farmers
have now practically completed the
crawling of six and half miles
Very great credit is due to the farm
crs on this line for their energy and
persistence i'll accomplishing such Il
splendid work. They are amply re-
paid in having such a first class road
all the way to the LcSucur river. it
shows what can be done whenever
farmers on any main travelled road
awake to the Importance and the profit
of having thoroughly good road
Farm lands have advanced in value
and there will be no spell of bad
weather that can keep the farmers.
living along this line, from marketing
their produce and coming to town
whenever they desire to do so.
A most significant fact showing the
value of good roads came to my notice
last summer. After very heavy rain,
with ordinary roads. practically i'm
passablc. and farm work at an abso-
lutte stand still, because it was impos-
siblc to get into the fields, farmer
remarked to his help, Its too wet
to do anything else, so we will take
a load of wheat to town" He got q
high price when no other work could
be DONE
On the poor farm road the hills just
south of the city, have all been gray
eled, and most decided improvement
has been made on this section of
road.
On the Eagle Lake road about one
and one half miles have been covered
with gravel this winter, making Il
Thoroughly first class road within one
mile of Eagle Lake
What has been known as absolutely
the worst road in the country for
many years is now the best for a
space of four miles. Farmers on this
road donated literally, the county com
missioners paid a part of the cost, and
this club and the Automobile club also
contributed quite heavily. There are
now only two main Travelled roads
where 10 crawling has yet been done
1t is greatly to be regretted that on
these roads no start has yet been
made in the line of permanent i'm
provements.
With the limited amount of money
at the command of your committee
all that we can hope to do is to co
operate where the farmers show will
ingness to 90 ahead with the work
We feel very much encouraged over the
prospects for another year. The roads
already improved are the best possible
object lesson, and your committee feels