The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-01-10

II is Planned 10 mold a confer
ence OF good roads apostles at
81. raul on January % and 90
Tor the purpose of discussing
county and state highway work.
Inc conferences will be held in
the highway department offices
and a general discussion will be
asked for by the state engineer
and the presidents of the various
civic, commercial and good roads
associations. Boosters in Blue
Earth county and Mankato are
planning 10 take good sized
committee 10 st. Paul and WI
mona county also plans to have a
large delegation. which will be
headed by Mayor Richardson of
Winona.
The state highway commission
viii submit the plans and specif-
cations of the highway commits
SiOnS of New York and Massa-
chuSettS, which are the leading
road building states. Blue prints
showing the construction of the
bituminous roads of the east will
be studied and attention viii be
paid 10 road binders and Sn
faces. City engineers through.
out the state will DE urged to be
present 10 discuss the highway
question as well as the city paw
ing question.
Cottrell Morgan. = noted road
and paving engineer. who repre-.
scnts the international Highway
Improvement association viii
speak before the gathering. He
Will compare the roads of Min
neSOta with the bituminous roads
Of the east and technically de-
scribe the uses Of 4 natural as
phaltic binder for highways and
sheet asphalt bOnlevards and pave
ments. He has recently returned
from Bermude2. Venezuela, where
he made a laboratory study of
The natural bitumenS OF that
country in behalf OF the highway
commissions of New York and
Connecticut.
The various committees will be
asked TO tell of their expert
ments in road building and their
opinions sought as TO which style
OF road or construction best
serves the traffic requirements.
Some of the committees will
show photographs of recently
completed highways and explain
their construction and cost.
One OF the most important top
les 10 be discussed will be the
working out of the road tax. In
several counties the farmers are
permitted to pay their road taxes
in labor; that is. working on the
road during dull seasons. 1t will
be urged that this law be repeal
ed and all road taxes paid in
cash. This money will be turned
into a special fund, which will be
distributed for state roads by the
state highway commission. The
question of uniform style of
construction will be urged and
some counties will ask for the
adoption OF the standard speciti-
cations OF New York state, with
slight notifications.
II is also planned to consider
the matter Of oilinS roads. The
construction of the roads in
Minnesota is such that a thick
layer Of dust accumulates on the
surface, especially il the road is
heavily travelled, and there has
been complaint from abutting
property owners. The eastern
roads are duStleSs and the money
which is saved by eliminating
the oil process is put into the
construction of the road. Tho
surfaces do not eXude oil or pitch
under the heat of the sun, nor
become hard and brittle in cold
weather because the pure btu
men meets all the changes of
the weather and holds the stone
in place.
The conference will unques-
tionably stimulate the good roads
issue throughout the state and
result in much benefit to every
body.
An enthusiastic delegation OF over
fly representatives from all the
and cities between Mankatc
nd Minneapolis met at ShakOpef
esterday to discuss the matter oil
the support of the counties
lterested in carrying out the work
{ building a federal postroad from
Iankato and Minneapolis by way OF
he Minnesota river valley, should
MS route be designated by the state
ighway commission as the most
,vorable one. The meeting was
by the general feel.
lg of enthusiasm of all the delegates
resent. All seemed greatly in fay
+ Of having the road progressed as
Don as possible.
M other of Coed Roads Movement.
There are several reasons why the
Minnesota valley road should be des-
mated. One is that Mankato de.
arves TO have the road come here
ecause she is the mother of the
pod roads movement in this part
f the state and Blue Earth county
OF only breaches good roads but
Iso puts into practice the good
Dads doctrines. Mankato is the larg.
st city in South Central Mime.
1ta and in the heart of the rich
81 farming district in the state. II
le road comes through here it will
ring hordes of men from Othe,
ates to buy Minnesota land and as
is in the heart of the far
IL district, it can easily be
,achad nv automobile over this