The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-20
POST ROAD MONEY
Is RESTORED

eTnor Eberhart's interview with Of
fcials of the postoffice department
here and Logan Waller Page of the
road division of the department OF
agriculture, disclosed the fact that
the government had Withdrawn the
$4,000 lotted to Minnesota TO aid
the construction OF the scenic high
way from Minneapolis to Mankato
and had allotted IL 10 another state.
This action was taken because En-.
giBeer Wonders, the government ex.
pert, reported that the road would
cost s250,o0o The government affleials
believed the state and local inter.
ests could not pay two-thirds of the
cost of construction. as required by
law. Furthermore, the government
would not increase its allotment 10
$4,000, or one-third of the cost OF
building the road.
Appropriation to be Restored.
After the plans and specifications
Of the state engineer had been dis
cHssed at length an agreement was
reached by which the states allot-
ment will be restored and increased
This is contingent upon certain
changes I'm the specifications of the
state engineer so that a larger pro-
portion of gravel per mile will be
put into the new highway. The
governments further participation
is olso contingent upon an increase
in the amount OF money to be con.
tributed by the state and the CON-
IHunities through which the road Is
t. run.
AS originally planned by the
state engineers, the road was to
= have cost $4,000" said Governor
Eberhart. The specifications were
scaled down lower so that the cost
would be between $4,000 and $751;
0Go. This would have been met by
the government contribution OF $751;
200 and our own fund of nearly
$4,000. Mr.. Wonders in his report
suggested that certain changes be
made in our plans, which | insisted
we're not necessary.
Specifications Will Pc Approved.
Mr.. Page finally agreed to approve
the original specifications, and the
postoffice department will raise its
Cre-third of the cost There is
$4,000 which can be had immedi-
a:ely because one state has declined
tn take its allotment. An allotment
nf Sl25,000 has been made TO the
STATE OF Ohio for post road construc.
tion. but I was told there was doubt
%hether the deal with that state
would go through II Il fails Min
nesota will get $4,000 from the
Ohio allotment.
The state and county share Of
the cost under the new arrange
nent will be s62,09O. We already
have $4,000 and will have to raise
the other $4,000 before we can get
TIE governments allotment. win
teke the matter up when get back
Minnesota next week"
Governor Eberhart has gone 10
Dallas to participate I'm the Mime
sofa day" exercises at the national
corn shoy Saturday.
Interview With Mr.. Holman.
John II. Hohmann. who has been
working long and hard to secure
the government aid for the scenic
highway, said today, in regard to
the dispatch from Washington:
the proposed road down to $4,000!
II seems that the government
is willing TO help only for a s92,-
600 road. That means that we
shall have to raise $4,000 more, IL
we want the road We shall do the
best we can. We do not intend to
lie down. The report means, II seems
that the counties through which the
road Is to pass will have to raise
$4,000 more. This in my opinion
is almost impossible. The city of
Mankato and Blue Earth county
have done their share and so have
the other municipalities and coun-
ties interested.
To Raise Added Amount
Il would be opposed to having
our own county raise its pledge
and neither would | have the cour-
age to ask any OF the other coun.
ties TO do any better than they
Rave done. There are only two
ways. in my opinion, by which this
additional $4,000 can be raised.
One way is by getting up sub
scription list among the farmers
who win be directly benefited and
past whose farms the road is to
run. The other way is by asking
the business interests OF the twin
cities to furnish the money | think
that the man who would go to the
twin cities and ask for additional
money would have to be well arm
ored and carry plenty of ammuni-
ton.
Await Governors Return.
II called up Senator Benson
again this morning and we decided
to take no further action until the
governors return TO st. Paul. AS
soon as he does return we viii
possibly call a meeting or few OF
tho foadaro rhn have hao, t,to~