The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-05-08
From Fridays Daily.


Senator weis to Washington, In the
interest OF the Scenic Highway, TO
be built from Bloomington Bridge
to Mankato was a success in every
particular. While arriving there at
very inopportune time In many
respects, for the capitol was a busy
place with "a foreign war about
ready to burst forth, yet by staying
over he received very courteous
treatment I'm every department
where he found II necessary to call
relative to the road appropriation.
He was given all OF the reports and
data the government had on the
matter, and found that the states
were divided into eight divisions for
the purpose OF securing information
for congress in regard to the con-
struction Of highways for the trans.
missions OF mail over them. and
| that Minnesota with some other
central western states was in the
eighth division. No application for
aid for q post road was made by
any other state In this division, and
for that reason the government was
| favorable TO tho allotment of aid
I'm case funds became available.
There are two sources to which they
may look for this purpose, being
/ first, a balance from the money ap-
propriated the past year and second
the pending appropriation bill. II
Is certain that II money for the
construction of post roads is made
to any state, that Minnesota now
heads the list OF states to receive
Il. In the department OF public
roads of the department Of agricul
ture, difficulties were encountered
with reference to the scenic road.
There the engineers were not en-
tirely unanimous about the kind OF
road to be built up the valley. but after
lengthy consideration did agree that
the road as planned by the Minnesota
state highway commission would
meet the government requirements
and the department, with some re-
luctance, agreed to its construction.
Should funds become available from
| the government II will mean a larger
| allotment and a much better road
than was at first under considera-
ton. In very short order a definite
decision will be reached about
available monies from the first
source, the unexpected balance Of
| the original appropriation Of $780,
900 and IL the necessary amount is
left in this appropriation. bids, now
being prepared by the government,
will be published ut once, and an
effort made to let the building OF
the road. Should the balance prove
insufficient and the pending APP
preparation bill pass, the standing
of the state with reference to the
funds is set forth above, and only
a short delay would follow, before
money was available. Senator
Weis will make a report of his
trip and its results to the officers
OF the Scenic Highway association,
and until II Is made through them
the exact situation will not be
known. We understand that Il Is
the intention OF the officers of the
association together with the sena
tor, to meet the state highway com
mission this week, and &c go over
every detail that Is left so that the
position of the government and the
state will be fully understood. and
as soon as the real work starts there
will be no further delay. The air
seems to be cleared and the clouds
breaking away from the long de-
layed building OF the road. While
II was believed a year ago that
progress would be made much more
rapidly than Il has been, it must
also be remembered that the start
was made to build cheap road.
| Many obstacles have been removed
and those who know admit that work
OF any kind, through government
channels. is slowly started. There
OF the road but this was never
shared by those who have labored
daily, and night time as well, for
the Scenic. It's boomers are found
In every town enroute, and what
one man neglected to do another
tried to accomplish and there has
been no Quitting In" from start to
finish. When the Job is completed
as we believe that It will be In
the words OF Admiral Schley, there
will be glory enough for all"
1 C.1u. E.ta.y,. n.ttx
To The Free Press: About two
/ years ago the Madison Lake road
was the pride of this section OF the
country: today It is disgrace to the
pioneer Of good roads, our city.
| Where and what Is done with the
money appropriated for this road
every year? Why isn't It used now
when II will do the most good?
Spring. the time when the roads
are soft and rains are frequent, Is
when the roads should receive at.
tention.
The road between Mankato and
Eagle Lake is In a terrible condition
there being ruts up to the hubs in
many places. Why should a road
like this be allowed to get in such
condition when n few dollars for m