The Mankato free press., 1912-04-05

Fl
intercourse with neighbors. etc., are
necessary to the comfort of the farm
err and good roads Is one of the
means of getting this comfort.
1.-THE lure of the city is a danger
o,ls one and the sooner we stop It,
the better It will be. Here again
good roads comes as one Of the
means of rescue and of keeping the
boys and farmers on the farm"
Mr.. Palmer touched on the con-
solidation of schools much in the
manner in which Judge Lorin Cray
has advocated.
Good roads would be the means
of getting physicians to the farm
home in almost no time, he said.
He stated that there was new
and growing business of automobile
manufacturing. These factories give
employment to so many people that
this industry should also be given
consideration. The farmers and
auto drivers are not natural enc
mics as was thought at one time.
There are few road hogs, but the
farmer has it within his power to
make them correct their ways.
"The tourists form another fac
tor which should be considered, for
they leave money when they come
here.
How to Get Good Roads.
However, the great question is
how to get good roads. We don't
need the money SO much, and we
don't need time SO much, but we
need the right spirit. It's a cam.
paign of education"
The speaker gave a history of ed,
ucating the people to getting good
roads-its early work. origination and
present growth.
Everything depends upon the
proper spirit, the spirit of co.opera.
tion," he said. '.As to the means OF
doing the actual work, much can be
road work is wrong but it is i'm
proving. Minnesota helps pay one.
half the cost of the road and the
people should take advantage of this
law.
Another way to get good roads is
the good old fashioned way of going
out and building roads. Our plan is
to do permanent work. There has
been more money thrown away on
roads than any other way | know OF
through the slack methods and slov,
enly way of repairing roads.
Today the gospel of efficiency is
one of the first considerations In
years past our efficiency certainly
was not what it ought to be.
"There are three considerations,
That of drainage, grading and drag
ging. Water is the worst enemy OF
good roads and as bad as poor
overseer. A good road is neither
too narrow nor too wide. Our main
travelled roads especially should be
dragged, drained and put into good
shape. If we do this and then put
in a good coat of gravel our road
troubles will be over. Gravel is an
excellent finish; stone is a little too
expensive.
"By cooperation on the part OF
farmers, business men and profes-
sional men, we are able to gravel
these roads at a comparatively small
cost. These are some of the best
advertisements we can have.
81 believe this section OF the
state was the first to inaugurate the
system of hauling gravel during the
winter. The county has stepped in
and offered to pay 20 cents a load.
The Automobile club and CONNER
cial club have done their share TO
help improve the roads OF Blue
Earth county. 1t pays big dividends
If not more than for the good
feeling extended between the busi-
ness men and farmers. Nothing bet
ter could be done by business men
than expending money on good
roads"
After Mr.. Palmer's talk, which
was very enthusiastically received,
Judge Cray invited all present to
remain outside in order to have
their photographs taken.
Closed Shortly After Five O'clock.
The afternoon session closed
shortly after five o'clock yesterday,
and after the meeting was adjourn
ed the large company of men gath
cred in front of the Elks' building
and were photographed by John X.
Snow. Following this a large num-
ber of the delegates enjoyed an au-
tomobile ride about the city. The
meeting yesterday was considered
success from every point OF view,
and the attendance both in the after
noon and evening, was more thar
had been expected. Judeg LorinCray
presided throughout all sessions III
his usual mastery manner.
Delegates to Convention.
Those who were present at the
convention but who were not men
toned yesterday are:
Dodge Center-M. ID. Williams, a.
Alguire. -,
Austin-J. ]. Furlong, E. Fl. Smith.
Marshall-Thomas Davis.
xr.oaho n Wy G1otfeitpr