The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-09-19
PLANS MADE TO VOTE
MORE CASH FOR ROAD
From Tuesdays Daily.

from Tuesdays Daily.
County Commissioners Swanson
and Briggs of Nicollet, County Com
missioner Manske from LIE Sueur, Sen
ator H. N. Benson of st. Peter, Gov
eminent Engineer j. c. Wonders of
Washington, d. c., and Assistant At
torney General c.. Louis Weeks of
st. Paul met with the Blue Earth
county commissioners yesterday af-
ternoon and decided several final ar
rangements in the financial end of
the Scenic Highway from Mankato
to Minneapolis. Ramsey county, 1t
will be remembered, handed in So
500 for the road, but as Ramsey
county does not touch the road, this
money cannot be used according to
law. The road was first designated
from Mankato to Bloomington bridge,
but was re-designated to Fort Smell
ing. However, the surveys were
made only to Bloomington bridge, SO
Ramsey county's donation cannot be
used. The contracts for the work
are to be made between each county
individually and each contractor, and
not between the government and the
contractor. If the latter was the
case, Ramsey county's $500 could
be used, but the work would have
to be done under the eight hour law.
Would Mean an Increase.
This would mean an increase of
20 per cent in the cost of the road.
In order to get round the eight hour
law, the contracts are being made
with the counties, and thus the work
must be doue under the Elwell law
which prohibits county from CIV
ing money for road improvements
to any other county. All the work
must be approved by Mr., Wonders,
and all bills are also approved by
him.
These details were explained by
Mr. Wonders and Mr.. Weeks yester-
day afternoon, and therefore, the
four other counties interested in the
scenic highway, Blue Earth, Nicol.
! let, lie Sueur and Scott, will have
! to bear the burden of the remain
ing $4,000 which Ramsey county is
refused the honor of subscribing
But in spite of this fact, the add
tional $1,625, one-fourth of the S.,
500, will not mean any unbearable
I load for this county, and for the
! benefits to be derived from the road
the improvements are we'll worth
the price. Mankato and Blue Earth
county have given together, $500
and with the additional $1,625, the
total is SIPS which must come
| from this county and the city Of
Mankato. OF this amount, half comes
back to the county from the state, &C
cording to law, after it has beer
paid, leaving in reality, only So,
$3.50 for the county and city.
What Has Been Pledged.
The city alone has pledged $4,000
$1,000 from the city, $1,000 from tn
Commercial club and $500 from thu
Automobile club. Therefore, whel
this much of the remaining $3,5625
is paid by the city with the $4,000
the county alone will be responsible
for only $1,06250, and only thi
much will have to be taken from tn
county road and bridge fund.
The county commissioners also de
cided to allow the Southern Mime
sofa Better Development league tn
5000 donation which was requeste
yesterday. County Attorney ]. W
Schmitt asked the county to offer
reward for the capture of John E
Habinger and Otto Lenske who ar
wanted for deserving their familie!
Mr.. Habinger has a wife and fiv
destitute children, and Mr.. Lensk
left wife and seven children, equa
ly destitute. The commissioners d.
cided to offer rewards of $25 fo
each man.
H. Compton spoke to the con
missioners on the improvement c
State Road No. near the Eagl
Lake cemetery, and Commissioners
John H. Hohmann and William T
Compton were appointed to conside
the matter with power to act.
F. H. Griffin reported that the lot
in Lyra cemetery for burial of tn
poor, had never been paid for. an
that they were in very insight
condition. County Auditor C. L. Kel
nedy was authorized to pay 500 fo
the lots as soon as the deed is d.
livered.
Good Thunder Road Improvement
R. L. Houk and others spoke abou