Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-04-26
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GOOD ROADS.

Hon. M. j.. Bowling, OF Olivia,
was recently asked. by the editor
Of the University Farm Press News,
for q brief statement Of the methods
so successfully used, in Renville
County. for making and maintain
ing good roads. His reply is as
follows:
| will use as an example the IS
miles Of east and west road par
alleling the Milwaukee Road through
Renville County. When the news
reached US that the Tribune Trophy
would be given to the county hav-
ing the best roads. over which the
automobile tour to Aberdeen would
run, we divided this SIS miles into
districts. selecting the most en-
thusiastic good roads man in each
district as its superintendent. We
went to the county commissioners,
who favored us with a small ap-
preparation, which was divid ed
equally among the district superin-
tendents. We went to the village
council of each village, and were
favored by them with small ap-
preparation, which was turned over
to the local district superintendent.
We then aroused the spirit Of en-
thusiasm among the village people
and the farmers along the entire
route. We also aroused a spirit
of rivalry between the districts;
and then we went to work with
the ordinary disc and harrow. follow
ing these with the King drag. The
entire SIS miles was thoroughly
disced. narrowed and then smoothed
by the King drag. .Sods were
thrown to the side of the road,
ruts were filed and packed, ap-
proaches to culverts and bridges
were carefully filled level with
planks, all stones and pieces of
broken glass were picked up by
hand. Rocks were dug out, and
the holes filled and packed. Low
places, where water might settle
after rain, were drained by small
open bitches. This work having
been accomplished, nothing further
was done than to maintain the road
in good condition by the use of the
King drag from one end of the
county to the other. Each district
superintendent. who worked with
out remuneration. knew just where
his work began and left off; and
although heavy rains preceded the
Aberdeen run. and our soil is as
slippery when wet as any IN the
state, by running the King draRs
over this road in the early morning
of the day when the automobiles
went through, it made the surface as
smooth and nice as a city street.
mot counting the labor of love,
which was gladly donated by far
mers and village people along the
line. our total expenditure on this
road. for 1910, was less than $500.
l am convinced that the same
work can be duplicated in any COM
munity in Minnesota, by simply
getting together and dividing UP
the territory and then enthusing
the inhabitants until spirit of
loyalty in each district is aroused.
This will soon become welded into
a county spirit that is sure to bring
down the fruit.
If l would add anything more
it would be this: Don't let water
stand on any portion of the road,
to soak and soften it; don't permit
single sod to be used in construct
ing the road; don't build the road
too wide. and don't build it to a
peak in the center. Make it round
like hogs back, and then keep it
in condition by frequent use of
the King drag; and do not forget
that the best time to use the King
drag is right after rain."
POSTAL RATE lNCONGRUlT1ES
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