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

for it's road work, but the credit is
largely due to one man-George NJ
/ Palmer He moved that the thanks
of the association be extended to
Mr.. Palmer, and this was carried
Auto President Talks.
1 President John H. Hohmann of the
! MankatO Automobile club was called
up and urged that the road be made
state road. He told what had been
done on the Eagle Lake road. Four
miles of road had been graveled, at
a cost of $1,000, and the net cost to
the county was only $500. The Lake
Washington road people could get
their road graveled. without much
burden falling on anyone. The Auto
club had donated 500 for the Lake
Washington road, and had been
bending it's efforts for the improve
ment of this and the Lake Madison
road. The latter road was completed
now, and the clubs efforts would
be put upon other roads.
Mark l.. Wildes told of the ad.
vance in road making. He consid-
cred drainage the most important
fortunately been plowed up and
planted to the wheel tracks. Flat
roads are apt to be wet and rough.
About the only thing that was still
free-not gobbled up by trusts-was
the roads and air.
Mr.. Koenen suggested that all
weeds, brush and trees be cut from
the four rod roads. He spoke of
the drainage bitches along the roads
being plOwed up, so that there are
no more bitches now than forty
years ago. He asked the farmers
not to pillow up the bitches, and the
meeting responded to this with ap-
plause.
Great Western Is Liberal.
w. r. Hammett said that forty
cars of stone dust had been prom
ised, and the Great Western road
had offered to haul twenty-four cars
free, and he hoped to be able to
get the rest hauled. 1t was expected
to get something from the county
as well as the money appropriated
by the Auto club. He wished to
know how much the farmers would
donate i'm hauling the stone dust
from the siding. He would donate
a days work with his teams.
President Koenen said that the
farmers would take care of this.
County Attorney j. W. Schmitt
said that great deal of work had.
been done last year on the road,
and that great deal of credit was
due to Agent Barr of the Great
Western for his cooperation He
moved that the hearty thanks of the
association be extended to the Off
GERS and the members who helped
and to Mr.. Barr and the Great West
ern road, and this was carried.
Mr.. Barr said that the road was
anxious to have good roads, as that
means more business. The road had
donated the hauling of fifty cars and
he had gotten as big cars as pos
sible, and he thought that possibly
another twenty-five cars might be
donated. He would send i'm a re-
port Of the meeting to the officers.
Crossings Need Fixing.
Mr. Schultz reported as to the
Northwestern crossing, that he had
had good promises from the road, to
widen the cut and drain the sides,
raise the track, haul gravel, etc, but
none of the promises had been kept.
The rOadmaster was removed and
the railway workmen struck. He
would take the matter up again this
year with the road. The track had
been raised eight inches, which was
all that was done.
President Holman suggested that
a committee be appointed to work
with the Automobile club commit
tee on the two Northwestern cross
ings. The meeting appointed George
Schultz and John Borne.
President Koenen said that the
farmers were willing to donate and
to use all the money that could be
secured.
Mr.. Morehart said that he would
consult with the county board and
would also secure a private sub
scription of $50 to SIS, which he
would head with $40.
Mr.. Hohmann suggested in the in
terest of good roads that each farm
er present buy an automobile and
join the Automobile club, which
caused much merriment.
Late in the afternoon the meeting
adjourned for one year, with the ut
most good feeling on everybOdy's
part.