The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-01-24
COUNCIL VOTED $1,000
AIDING SCENIC HIGHWAY
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
With a cheerful vote the city
council this morning voted TO appro-
pirate $1,000 to aid in improving the
proposed federal postrOad from Man
kato to Bloomington, in case the
state highway commission should
designate this road. The council TOOK
this action unanimously, after the
good roads committees of the Com
mercial and Automobile clubs had
presented it, showing the necessity
for as good a showing as possible
at the meeting of the state highway
commission one week from tomor-
row.
The members of the good roads
committees present were County
Commissioner J. Fl. Holman, Presi-
dent r. e. Brown of the Automobile
club, Dr. J. w. Andrews, John Ny
quist, II. A. Patterson and C. II.
Saulpaugh
Mr.. Hohmann stated what the diff
ferent counties and cities have done
between Mankato and Minneapolis,
and made it plain that other sections
Of the state are making such efforts
to have other roads designated that
no effort must be spared in order TO
make sure that the claims OF the
Minnesota valley road are presented
in such a favorable light that it
will be named He stated that this
would mean a splendid road all the
way from the twin cities to the
southern boundary of this county,
and that it would draw people from
the southwest who were touring to
the twin cities, and mean more bust
ness for local merchants. 1t would
also mean that numerous twin city
automobile parties would come 10
Mankato and its ADJACENT lakes for
Saturday and Sunday in warm
weather. Mr.. Hohmann wished the
council to sanction the efforts being
made to get this road. He thought
the show for this road was as good
or better than for other roads.
Mr. Brown asid that inasmuch as
Mankato originated the good roads
movement it would be a bad thing
for the city not to get this federal
Ipostroad. Blue Earth county was
short on its proposition of the ex-
pense, and it was desired that the
city council appropriate $1,000. The
getting of this road would keep Man
kato on the map.
No Opposition to Project.
DR.. Andrews said that he had
learned of no opposition to the pro-
ject. The federal post road would
be made the best road in the state
for some years, and if the valley
road was designated it would mean
thousands of twin city visitors to
the city and county in automobiles,
and this was bound to bring trade.
Mankato could not afford to let this
road go elsewhere for a few dol
lars. a.. -
Mr. Patterson said that it would
be appropriate for this road to come
to Mankato, as this city has a wide
reputation as being the pioneer in
the good roads movement in Mime
sofa. The city could well afford to
give the money asked, for the road
would bring it back many fold.
Mr.. Hohmann stated that Cook
county has voted $4,000 to be used
if the road from Carver to McGregor
is named.
Mr.. Saulpaugh spoke of the great
benefit the road would be to the
merchants OF the city, in the way OF
bringing tourists who would spend
money. Even heretofore. from one to
six automobile parties have put up
nightly in Mankato. This city can
not afford to lose the road for $1,000,
and the council would be doing
every local merchant good turn by
voting it.
Mr. Nyquist said that he was more
of doer than a talker, but as a
taxpayer he was willing to stand
/. his share.
After some further discussion Com
missioner Lamm moved that it was
the sense of the council that $1,000
be appropriated for the Improvement
of the road if it was designated as Il
federal post road, and this was car
ried unanimously.
But Little Other Business.
The other business before the
council took but little while to
transact. The new ordinance defin-
ing the duties of the city engineer
was given it's second reading.
An arrangement whereby DR.. Hen
ming of Chicago settles the assess.
ment on his slough property for grad
ing Pleasant street, for $1,000, was
approved and the money will be
paid or has been.
B. d. Smiths assessment for build
ing the sidewalk up the Guenther
hill was 1854 and this was settled
by the city agreeing to deduct 5000
from the assessment.
The bills were few, and the pay
rolls showed that the council is max
ing an unprecedented record for
; economy. The waterworks and sew
err payroll for the first half of JAN
uary was but S93.7O, the health de-
partment payroll but $1625, the
street payroll but $16.20. and the
park payroll but So, which was for
hauling cinders for use in improve
ments next season. In years past
the street payroll at least, was about
as heavy in winter as in summer,
amounting to several hundred dol.
lars a month The various depart
ment heads have cut the expenses
this winter down to the very bone,
!, it would appear, and without impair
ing the efficiency of the service.
The semi-annual allowance of 5000
for rental of an armory was made
TO Company II.