New Ulm review., 1913-03-12
Springfield ''Good Roads,
Meeting A Huge Success.
Nearly 200 Present.
Steps Are Taken To Carry On
Work Between Mankato
And So. Oak. Line.

for anything, that part Of the National
Scenic Highway lying between Man
kato and the Dakota line win be
completed ere the summer wanes.
The Springfield "gcod roads'' conven-
sembly hill with delegates from every
city and town along the line Of the
proposed highway and consisting Of
quite as many business men from the
farms as from the cities shows the.
interest people in this section are
taking in the proposition.
T. G.. Bonnallie Of Tracy, President
of the Southern Minnesota Better
Development League presided ct the
meeting, which was held Friday
afternoon and evening at Springfield.
One hundred seventy-one delegates
were present, coming from Nicollet,
Brown, Redwood. Lyon and Lincoln
counties. All Of the commissioners Of
Nicollet county were in. attendance
and number Of Mankat0 people.
among them Judge Lorin Cray. New
Ulm's representatives were Ferd.
Crone, J. A. Ochs, J. p. Graft, w. j.
Julius and e. g. Hage. The visiting
delegates were met at the train by
the Springfield Good Roads Boosters
with a band and escorted to the
convention hall. The hrst speaker
was H. C. Solberg, Professor Of the
Engineering School Of Brookings Col
lege, Brookings, 8. D. His topic was
"The Scenic Highway From Chicago
to Yellowstone Park" and his enthusi-
,asm rapidly communicated itself to
the audience as they realized that Mr..
ESolberg was thoroughly cOnversant
with his subject and an authority on
road building matters. Senator Ell
we'll, author OF tho "Elwell< Law" Was:
present and explained the provisions
of the act. An impression prevails
in many farming districts that un-
der the Elwell Law, farm lands i'm.
imediately adjoining proposed high
ways are to be subject to special
road tax for construction and sup
port. Mr.. Elwell explained that not
only lands adjoining highways, but
also those lands which lie tributary
and make use of the highways are to
be taxed for the road fund. He
stated that the amount of the tax
would not ordinarily exceed 3 or 8
cents per acre. Claus Swanson, MIC
ollet county commissioner, advocated
a plan of disseminating knowledge Of
this particular feature of the law.
saying that a great number of
farmers oppose the law because
they fear it will lay great bur-
den upon them. e. G. Hage and
other delegates spoke brieay on var.
ious phases of the matter in hand
and Judge Cray spoke at length on
the practical application Of the law,
giving particulars concerning road
work done under its provisions in
Blue Earth county.
An adjournment was then taken
until p. M, when an elaborate ban
Quet was served to the delegates and
the discussion continued. Il was
voted to 60 ahead with the east and
west road between Manhato and
Brookings under the Elwel Law dur
ing the coming summer. The dele
gates from each county pledged them
selves to raise 500 from each OF
their counties to 6efray the expenses
of preliminary work, circulating of
petitions, etc. T. G. Bonnalke was
chosen as chairman Of a committee. I
which he will appoint from towns
and cities along the line of the road
to look after the general interests Of
the improvement. H. N. Somsen and
J. P. Graft OF New Ulm were men,
toned for places on the committee.
The convention was rounded out by
musical numbers rendered by Spring
field talent, all Of which were highly
enjoyed by the delegates The New
Ulm contingent returned home brim-
ming over with enthusiasm for the
,,,o~lr