The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-03-10

structive Addresses on High
way Betterment: Old Officers
Are Reelected.
From Thursdays Daily
The annual meeting of the Lake
Washington Road Improvement as.
sociation yesterday afternoon was a
very harmonious and pleasant af
fair. After most excellent dinner
at the Hotel Heinrich, the gathering
adjourned to the Commercial club
room, where a business session OF
a couple of hours was held. and
road work talked over, both the
work of the past year and plans
for this years operation. The mem
bers of this association include the
best and most successful and far
sighted farmers living on the road
AS one result of having a good high
way, that can be travelled the year
around, they have marked their land
up from about sos an acre TO more
than $l00 an acre i'm the past year
or two. Probably no farm on sthe
road could be purchased for 800 an
acre, and the farmers confidently pre-
diet that il will go TO $3.50 an acre
soon. Iowa and Illinois farmers who
are coming in and buying farms at
advanced prices want to be located
on well graded and graveled roads,
so that they can haul their product
TO town regularly and without ruin.
ing their teams or vehicles. Some
will want automobiles, and good
roads are necessary for these. also.
Old Officers Reelected.
The meeting at the city hall was
called to order at 2:15 p. m, by
President John Koenen, and William
Wildes was elected moderator
Secretary Ed. Schmidt read re-
port of the work done on the road
last year. The report showed that
most of the farmers had donated
one days work or more. Much gravel
and stone dust was hauled.
Mr.. Koenen said that he had paid
out $l42.9O, and w. j. Morehart
said that he had paid $S6.76 for
switching charges. The donations in
the city had been $l40. and the
county had donated 500.
The report was adopted
The election of officers was taken
up, and the following were chosen:
President and treasurer, John Koe-
nan; secretary, Ed. Schmidt; road
committee, John Koenen, Gus Schu-
macher and George Wiedemann.
There were all reflections, except
that Mr.. Schumacher succeeds Mr..
Bassuet. who wished to be relieved.
Need of Good Roads
George NJ. Palmer was called upon
for a few remarks. He said that
this kind of meeting was one
OF the most suspicious that could be
held. Getting together was the first
and most important thing. We have
gotten along with poor roads be-
cause the advantage of good roads
was not appreciated. The time is
now at hand when better roads are
to be had, because everybody is get
ting interested. All know how much
more beneficial and comfortable a
good road is than poor road.
Farmers in this vicinity a year ago
answered questions put to them,
showing that they used the roads on
an average OF 222 times year, and
the value of farms on good roads
was advanced on the average 50
an acre. The farmers and business
men use the roads for business and
pleasure. Some of both, even auto
mobile owners, will contribute moth
ing for road improvement, but the
most are not so constituted The
Commercial and Automobile clubs
are willing to and do put into road
Improvement every cent that they
can. The Auto club puts almost all
of its funds in. The farmers have
TO put in but $3.50 TO $500 mile
TO have a first class graveled road.
Ii is certainly q benefit to the farm
ers as well as the autOists to have
such first class road This is
proved by the Eagle Lake, Mapleton
and Lake Washington roads. Mr..
Palmer congratulated the association
upon its good work and said that il
it continued to pull together it would
always have good road.
The moderator asked those who
were willing to donate two days'
work in their own districts to raise
their hands, and about half did this.
Most of the rest responded to re-
quest for those who would donate
one days work to hold up their
hands.
Should Be State Road.
The question of having the road
designated as a state road was dis
cussed, and it was the general opin-
ion that this ought to be done.
1t was decided to send commit.
tee to the county board to try to
get the road designated as a state
road, consisting of w. j. Merchant,
George Wiedeman and August
Schultz. County Attorney Schmitt
said that he would assist the com
mittee.
c. Z. Wise was called upon and
said that the farmers were to be con.
graduated upon their work The
work adds to the value OF the land,