The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-03-21
Better the Road; That
Was Slogan At Meet
From Saturdays Daily.

tween Mankato and that popular
summer resort, the Washington Lake
| Improvement club held their annual
meeting in the city hall this after
noon. John Koenen, president of the
club, presided at the meeting and
the matter of improving roads in
connection with Mankato people who
have summer residences at Lake
Washington, was taken up. About
twenty from the city were present.
The club was organized several
years ago by some Mankatonians
who have summer cottages on the
lake, and they have helped in the
road Improvement in connection with
farmers who reside in that vicinity.
This afternoon proposition was
taken up to have gravel hauled via
the Milwaukee and Great Western
roads and dumped at Waters sid
ing. 1t was proposed TO have a
permanent storage pile of gravel at
this siding for use by the club.
Straighten County Line Road.
1t was also proposed to straighten
the county line road where it di-
verges near Lake Washington on ac-
count of Mentions slough. From es.
Inmates made by County Engineer
Brooks, it is thought that by run
ming two fOur-foot bitches through
the slough and throwing the earth
from these bitches between them,
that road could be built, which
after being graveled, would shorten
the route to the lake considerably.
Gravel can be gotten from near the
lake and additional filling can be
gotten from Wildes hill on the east
of the slough. This is steep clay
hill and needs cutting down. 1t was
estimated by County Engineer Brooks
that the road which would run east
and west through the slough, could
be built for about $500. The build
ing of the road will also improve
the slope of Wilde's hill.
Work of the Convention.
After the assemblage was called to
order by President Koenen, Otto
Guentzel was, on motion by the
president, elected to preside over the
meeting.
Secretary Smith reported that the
receipts of the club for the past
year were S30715 The disburse-
ments for the year were 1902 be-
sides an unpaid bill of $50 This
would make deficiency in the. treas
ury of about $45, were it not for the
fact that there has been enough
money promised to cover this. This
money, however, is not yet due.
President R. E. Brown of the Au.
tomobile club stated that from mon
ey, which was, appropriated for the
Washington Lake road last fall there
was yet unspent about $40 and that
at the last meeting of the Automo.
bile club, in January decided to give
$3.50 more for. this road, provided
that an equal amount be donated by
the farmers in the vicinity of the
road. ''''.''
August Schultz reported that Lime
township had improved the North
western crossing in that township
so that it was now in good condi-
ton.
Mr.. Schultz also reported that
Lime township had also set aside
5000 to be used for hauling gravel
for use. in different parts Of the
township for the coming year.
The "Pony" Grader.
Mr. Koenen said that the Pony"
grader. which had been purchased
by the club was an excellent ma
chine and would pay for itself many
times over. r. E. Brown said that
it would not do any good unless the
grader was put on the road and
Mr.. Koenen promised that this
would be done as soon as the frost
was out of the ground.
Mr.. Brown also stated that he
thought that he, could almost prom
Use that if the Washington lake
farmers would load and unload the
cars promptly, twenty-five acrs of
gravel delivered free to Waters
crossing. The gravel is to be load
ed at kasota. Mr.. Koenen said that
if these arrangements were made,
he would endeavor, to have the gray
ell loaded and unloaded. 1t was
thought however that it would be
cheaper for the Washington lake
farmers to hire tho railroad COM
pany to load this gravel at eight
cents yard than for some of
these farmers to go to Kasota and
do the work by hand
Mr.. Schultz said that there was
bad stretch of road from George
Schulte's corner to Waters crossing
and that work on this road had been
neglected by the town for a road
farther south. Mr. Schultz asked
that the taxpayers on this road be
allowed to put their work on the
road from George Schulte's corner
to Waters crossing, instead of on
the other
1t was finally decided that if ar
engagements were made for the
twenty-five cars of gravel from Ka-
sofa, that the Automobile club.would
arrange for the loading of the gravel
at KasOta if the Washington lake
farmers would unload it at Waters
crossing.
The Official Draggers.
I'll. N. Besdt, Peter Schultz and
Jacob Moeri were elected as official
draggers" for the Washington lake
road, to have charge of dragging
different sections of this road Mr..
Schultz reported that the worst piece
of road in the Madison Lake road
was near the Mankato city limits.
The members of the automobile club
present agreed with Mr.. Schultz
heartily, and suggested that John
Gerlich, who is a candidate for coun-
Gilman. would probably remedy, this
road ii he was elected.
John Koenen was unanimously re-
QI0nfn6 - f11 Il. 49,,