The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-11-07
YELLOW TRAIL
GIVEN BACKING
From Tuesdays Daily.


George P. Bethel of the National
Highway association addressed a
meeting of the Mankato Commercial
club last night in the interests of
good roads, and as result of his
presentation of the subject it was
moved that the Commercial club go
On record in support of the move
ment and that a committee be ap-
pointed in view of forming a local
organization The motion was made
by H. A. Patterson and seconded by
George NJ. Palmer and carried.
In his address, Mr.. Bethel said
that the nation is awakening to a
very large extent on the matter of
good roads, and that as a repre-
sentative of the National Good Roads
association he is here to get the
people to concentrate their efforts
on certain things which need to be
done in the way of road building.
THE National Highway association
was organized by fiftythree me who
laid large foundation fund for pre-
liminary work, such as sending auto
mobiles across the country to find
the needs and to have maps made.
The association is in communication
with the governors of all the states
and with other prominent men of the
country. and is an amalgamatiOn of the
road organizations of all over the
country. The object is to have
definite plan of road building to
present to the next session of con-
greSs
Endorsed at Winona.
AT the meeting in Winona re-
Gently a resolution was passed en-
dorsing the system of national high
ways as laid out by this association
and which makes the Black and
Yellow trail part of the national
system. The proposition is to go
before congress to ask for an appro-
priation of $5OO,0OC,O 900 to be used
during ten years for road building. We
must present to congress concrete in
formation along the line of road
building, and we should express our
selves as to what we want. The
feeling in congress last year was that
the peole should unite on some gen.
eral plan to join the large cities of
the country.
There is no great constructive
work remaining to be done by the
nation except highways" said Mr.
II
one which will connect the states.
The city needs the village and the
village needs the city, and the farmer
needs them both.
"Nine-tenths of a per cent of the
illiteracy of this country exists in
the cities and 600 times that much
is in the outlying districts. The
difficulty is that there are no schools,
and that is because there are no
roads. Where there are good roads
have roads to lower the percentage
of illiteracy in this country. We
must push this work as an educa-
tiOnal work for the nation
The automobiles which travel
through the country over these good
roads leave money behind them, and
enrich the states and counties
through which they pass. We want
the people to spend their money
because it will come back to them.
Big Thing, in the Nation.
This road building proposition is
the biggest thing the nation has ever
undertaken and involves the eX-
penditure of more money than any
other. The benefit will not all. be
in the present but we must look to
the money and effort spent in secur-
ing the roads"
Mr.. Bethel then showed a map
of the state which gave the six main
highways proposed to pass through
this state, four running east and
west and two running north and
south The roads will connect Min
neSOta with other states. He said
that local organizations were being
formed throughout the country in
planned that a membership fee of
50 so or more is charged His adj
dress resulted in the motion which
was mentioned above.
Complaint Against Speeders.
While the subject of roads was
being talked of F. NJ Currier stated
that John Mock of the Eagle Lake
road, who has been one of the most
active and Industrious road builders
and boosters in Blue Earth county,
was making serious complaint against
the speeding which is done on the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Lake road Mr..
Mock has decided not to do any more
road work until some action to stop
the speeding is taken and Mr.. Cur
rier moved that the club go on
record as sympathizing with Mr..
Mock in the matter and that a com
mittee be appointed to act with him
in taking such action.
Mr. Currier was very emphatic
when he declared, that he would not
blame the farmers who live on the
road if they should arm themselves
and put buckshot into those autos
that are recklessly speeded on the
highway in question. The complaints
should at least receive the attention
of the authorities.
George NJ Palmer seconded Mr.