Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-06-26

rain, the entire road surface must be
dragged, rounding up the crown and
filing in the ruts and hollows; and if
each farmer will take charge of that
part of the ROAD lying beside his
own farm, the whole highway will
be Kept in good condition at
minimum of time to all.
RENvILLE COUNTY's GOOD ROADS.
Perhaps the feasibility of this
system can test be portrayed by
describing the remarkable sue ess
which attended the efforts of a few
interested men in Renville County,
Minnesota, two years ago. At that
time an automobile tour was leaving
the Twin Cities for Aberdeen, South
Dakota. with the intention of return
ing through RenV1lle County.
Relaxing that an opportunity had
come to arouse local enthusiasm in
good roads, as we'll as to advertise the
county in a striking way, a we'll
known and popular resident stated a
movement only one week before the
run. which resulted later in giving
Renville County the reputation of
having the best road in the state.
This man. NJ. j. Bowling of
Olivia, formerly speaker of the Min
nesota House Of Representatives, went
before the County Commission ers
and requested the sum of two hundred
dollars for the purpose of improving
the fifty-five miles of road running
east and west through the county over
which the tour would pass. The sum
named seemed ridicuously small, but
the commissioners granted the APP
preparation. Mr., Bowling then in
divided the road into six sections and
persuaded five earnest road enthusiasts
to take charge of these sections with
himself, these men being Mr.. Tim
O'Connor of Renville, F. A Schroeder
of Danube. Amund Dahl of Bird
Island. c. A. Allen of Hector and
f. G.. Nellermos of Buffalo Lake.
Thus the executive organization was
complete.
The next step was to interest the
people along the route Contributions
of from ten to twenty five dollars were
secured from the village councils in
terested, which, with the appropria-
tion Of two hundred dollars from the
county, was all the money that was
expended Mr. Bowling and his five
workers then sought tbs aid of the
leading men in the villages and on
the farms that the highway touched,
and were Immediately successful in
arOusing great deal of practical,
working enthusiasm. They made
personal visits to each farm along the
route, explained the object of the
movement and showed what a wonder
full influence it would have in promot-
ing the cause of good roads through
out the county. Nearly every farmer
that was approached Immediately ex-
pressed himself heart and soul in
favor of the project, aud freely offered
his services. A few hesitated at first,
in which event they we're treated
courteously and with consideration
for their opinion, and were told that
their share OF the work would be done
for them out of the common fund.
All of these men came in later.
Only one man on the whole fifty five
miles of road was openly hostile to
the proposal. believing, as he said.
that it was merely one way Of work.
ing" the farmer in favor of the city
automobillsts. He even went so far
as to actually hinder the progress of
the work but the promoters sent men
and teams to do that particular piece
Of work, making repairs that he had
occasioned, and since that time he has
become one Of the most enthusiastic
advocates of good roads along the
route. Courteous and considerable
treatment, combined with the object
lesson before his very door, effected
/ this change of mind.
The actual work of road improve
ment then began. and was rushed
through in record time. Each of the
district superintendent appointed had
about nine miles of road to look
after and he was entirely responsible
for that section under his care.
Road graders were called into service,
and the whole road rounded up to
crown, all sods and stones being re.
moved. In the low and soft spots,
small drainage canals were construct
ed to lead the water away. When
the grading was completed the entire
highway was narrowed to loosen the
surface so that the operation of the