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

where state aid is given. The cheap
leg bridge is not permanent construc-
ton.
Roads Must Be Kept Up.
The proper maintenance OF a high
way system is a thing that no state
has. When roads and bridges are
built, they are abandoned and quickly
deteriorate. They ought to be taken
care of and kept in good condition all
the time. This is done in the Sean
dinavian countries, and also in France,
Germany and other European countries.
The Appian way in Italy was be-
gun 200 B. c. and took sixty eight
years to build, and is still in as good
condition as when built. 1t is 3l2
miles long, and every foot has proper
drainage and foundation. In the Andes
mountains is one of the Oldest roads,
having been built by civilization
5000 years old.
Mr.. Cooley displayed a large num-
Der of stereopticon views, showing good
roads in this country and Europe, and
some bad ones, and how they were
made good. He also showed a number
of beautiful sculptures, monuments
and buildings in Italy and Germany,
and other scenes. Professor Posey
conducted the machine. There were so
many pictures that Mr.. Cooley en-.
croached largely on Mr.. Kings time,
and some of the farmers had to 90.
James Gray Speaks Briefly.
James Gray of Minneapolis, demo-
cratic candidate for governor. came in
while Mr.. Cooley was speaking. and
responded to an invitation to address
the meeting. He said that his presence
was due to rain and bad roads. He
should have been at GAINESVILLE, but
missed the train and could not get
anybody to take him by team or auto.
He said that the question OF good
roads is too new for country as old
as this. 1t has been demonstrated that
the ancients made better roads than
we do, whether the other claims made
for them are myths or not. The pris-
oners of war were set at work on
their roads, aqueducts and public
buildings, and they got them very
cheaply. We are SO vastly richer that
we can afford to pay literally for the
means of communication. 1t is not sat
isfactory or encouraging for farmer
to open farm and find that at GER
tain seasons he is isolated and cannot
market his goods. The city man also
does not want to be confined to his
town in the use of his vehicle, so the
problem of good roads is up to both
the farmer and the city man. The
price of good roads is eternal vigilence.
Having built a good road, it must be-
maintained, the same as railroad
track has to be maintained. Good
roads is a matter of money to build
with, a matter of getting expert road
makers, and matter of keeping up
the roads. The latter is the hardest,
as it is not spectacular enough for the
American. We are not improving our
roads, but we don't want them to 90
to pieces afterwards.
Road Drag inventor Talks.
ID. Ward King of Maitland, No.,
was introduced and said that some had
been present two hours and half,
and suggested that all stand up and
rest while. The audience was glad to
do this, and before sitting down re-
in front and sit in compact body.
Mr.. King said that he had heard in
Texas of Mankato and its good road
work. A former Mankato man at FL
Paso had told him.
Mr.. King said that in driving out on
the roads from Mankato during the
day he had found the poorest to be
the ones that the most money was
spent on. He had never been on better
gravel roads or dirt roads improved
by the King drag.
Mr.. King asked what land is worth
here, and several farmers replied. 800
an acre. Mr.. King said that it was
not then question of money, for
the farmers could have such a road as
they wanted, the same as they could
have anything else.
Mr.. King explained how he had come
to make the drag that bears his name.
He had taken up farming late in life
and learned it from the best farmers,
and did not do as his daddy did, y
which was one of the causes of his
invent ingthe drag. He had seen the
roads so bad that he could walk to
town from his farm faster than a
team could go. A loaded wagon would
have stalled going down hill. He had
tried to get stone road to town, but
had failed. He endorsed stone, gravel
concrete and brick roads, but this could
not be had on all roads, and the ques.
ton was what to do with dirt roads.
Mr. King said that big reversible
l. y \