The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-02-14
AUTO OWNERS AIDING
BETTER ROAD lAB0RS
Continued From Page One.

portion of their valuation, thus to
tighten the burden of the counties
that cannot bear the heavy expense.
He said that the state has available
now $4,000, as the aid from the
federal government for the improve
ment of highways, and that if pend
ing legislation is passed by congress,
the state will have about 100000
with which to improve 1000 miles of
highway. Senator Elwell spoke of
| the effect of the good roads, and
II. FL. Dunn, of the legislature, told
what could be expected from the
1913 legislature. The one mill tax
was the subject of r. G. Dunn's ad-
| dress
DR.. C. E. Dutton, president of the
: association, spoke on the Road to
Winnipeg" and f. W. BaZille of St.
Paul had the subject, 'The Winnipeg
Tour" Allan d. Albert gave talk
, on the purpose of the association,
and G. A. VIII talked on Roads to
the East" Other speakers were p.
E. Truax, Breckenridge; c. M. King,
Deer River: J. TT. Hohmann, e. L..
Thornton, HI. j. Clark, and G. w.
Allyn. p. ]. Carter, cartoonist, gave
, chalk talk and f. l.. Cobb perform
ed some tricks of legerdemain. The
dinner was given by the Automobile
j club of Minneapolis.
Many Delegates Present.
There were fifty-five delegates pres
, ent representing, thirty-six of the
thirty-seven clubs in the state, which
are affiliated with the state associa-
ton. The secretary reported that
eleven new clubs had come in during
the past year making the present
, membership 3,17S, gain of 100 dur
ing the year. The association expects
! to increase it's membership to 5000
during the year
The association took action favor
ing the adoption of the standard
malleable iron sign posts, sample
of which was exhibited.
A letter was read from A. G. Batch
eldee, secretary of the American
Automobile association. regarding the
1913 Glidden tour The tour will
start from Minneapolis and will 20
to Yellowstone Park. The exact
route has not yet been announced,
but efforts are being made to bring
the tour through Mankato by way
! of the Minnesota Valley Scenic
route, and thence along the recently
! laid out tranS-continental route, the
middle section of which runs from
| Chicago to Mankato. From Mankato
| the route runs through New Ulm,
Sleepy Eye. Tracy, the Black Hills
! and on to Yellowstone.
| At the banquet last night silent
rising toast was given to Explorer
Scott, who lost his life in returning
] from an expedition to the south pole.
/ A. O. Hardt, member of the Royal
/ Automobile club of London, England,
was present at .the banquet and
! spoke on the roads in England.
j George w. Allyn of Madison Lake
/ spoke referring to the road work
done by Madison lake, Mankato and
| Blue Earth county, and gave high
praise to Mankato in this connec-
I ton. The banquet was rendered tie
delegates by the Minneapolis club.
| Address BY Mr.. Hohmann.
The following is the address de-
! livered by County Commissioner J.
H. Hohmann at the banquet tender
ed the Minnesota Automobile asso-
| citation by the Minneapolis organiza-
ton at the Radisson hotel, Minnea-
polls last night. His subject was
"Good Roads Building in Southern
Minnesota"
"The subject of good roads has SO
often been discussed from every point
of view, that there is little, if any,
thing, of importance that | can add
that would be of interest to such an
assembly Of good roads boosters and
| builders as is gathered here this ev-
ening. During the last five or six
years we have heard two slogans or
/ cries echo and re-echo throughout
the length and breadth of this vast
country of ours The one was the
cry back to the farm For awhile
/! devoted column upon column of its
/ valuable pages, and, from the plat,
form, public speakers dwelt at
=, length upon the discussion of this
subject. Today, however, there is
but little reference made to it. The
cry back to the farm seems to have
spent it's force. The public has fail
ed to rally to the cry. Back to the
farm is not so easy in practice as
it is. in theory. TO the people, who
are born and raised in a large city
this cry failed in it's effect, because
! the life of farmer is that of an
artist and not every one who might
long for the fresh air of the, country
can be a successful farmer. To the
! young man and young woman who
deserted the farm for city life, the
cry back to the farm fell upon deaf
ears, because these people prefer the
short hours, easier work and the
pleasures and distractions of the city
to the long hours. hard work and
monotony OF farm life. The other
slogan was Good Roads, Unlike the
slogan back to the farm the cry
! for good roads is daily increasing in
volume and our people are not only
crying and talking good roads, but
they are everywhere building them
Particularly is this noticeable in my
own section of Minnesota, the south
s.ss&E