The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-11-10
From Fridays Daily.

trip over the six miles of highway
from Mankato to Eagle Lake. Riding
along this road in an automobile is
our large cities. and with the sur
rounding scenery is still more pleas
ant. On the entire stretch there are
but a dozen stones and these are
not more than pebbles in size.
Michael O'Brien of the state high
way commission was sent down here
in the early part of the summer and
he has spent the season in keeping
the road in repair He is in charge of
the road patrol which has nothing to
do with road constructions, the duties
of this body being merely to keep
the highways in good condition. Dur
ing the summer he has taken excel
lent care of the road and has made
it his proud duty to see that there
is not a flaw in the entire stretch.
This road also shows what can be
done with the split log drag. If ever
a poor or even wretched road could
be put in fine condition with a little
expense it is the split log drag.
Club Has Assisted Greatly.
The Mankato Commercial club has
couraging road maintenance and con-
struction. The highway patrol of
which Mr.. O'Brien has been in charge
is more of an experiment by, the state
to see what can be done along these
lines, and to ascertain just how
road should be maintained to keep.
That the experiment on the Eagle
Lake road was success is shown by
the sudden change in the attitude of
the farmers who live along this high
way.
At first when the project was
preached, the farmers with the ex-
ception of few were against it,
and discouraged any action whatso-
ever. claiming that the expense more
than Offset the advantages gained if
there were any, for they also doubted
that much could be done toward keep
ing the road in this first class con-
dition at all times However, the state
highway commission went after the
road with the help of the commercial
club and a few farmers and today
these very people who were so strong
ly against it in the beginning are
the ones now most strongly in favor
of furthering such work and are glad
that the commission and commercial
club acted as they did.
John Mock Good Roads Man.
Eagle Lake road numbers among the
few who were heartily in favor of
such road maintenance, and at all
times gave his best support for any
thing that would help improve the
kato. Whenever he was asked to
lend his aid, he has been most will
ing to do so, and much is due him
for the excellent condition of this
highway.
The Commercial and Automobile
clubs have done their share and more
in the way of furthering this problem.
They have agitated the matter again
and again at the meetings. have dis
cussed the financing of such improve
ments and have at all times been
most enthusiastic in trying to i'm
prove the highways of Blue Earth
county. And all this work has not
been without results. One of the most
lasting and finest tributes to the
work of these clubs is the Eagle
Lake road.
Result of Cooperation.
This road is the result of the CO.
operation of the farmers, the Com
mercial club, the Automobile club
and the state highway commission
and now that such splendid results
have been obtained in this experiment
the question is being asked, "Why
can't all the roads of Blue Earth
county or those leading into Mankato
be put in the same condition"
There is no negative reply. The
question hinges upon the farmers. Ii
the farmers are willing to cooperate
with the Commercial club and the
state highway commission, roads of
the Eagle Lake type can be secured
in Blue Earth county throughout.
What the results would be should
this come to pass, no one can esti-
mate. 1t is believed that the land of
the farmers living along these high
ways would increase in value from
five to ten dollars an acre. One hun
dred bushels of wheat could be hauled
thus saving the trips of the farmer,
the wear and tear of the wagon, har-
ness, and horse-fesh.. Time would be
another matter that would be of no
mean value.
Simple, But Scientific.
The building and maintenance of
the Eagle Lake road is simple in its
whole but it takes some skill and
science in the details of the work.
When this road was repaired and
built this summer, most farmers who
saw the work complained severity,
saying that too much gravel was put
on, that there would be too many
stones, and that road with such
thick layer of gravel would be a
detriment rather than all advantage
But the work went on without heed
and now these very farmers are eX