The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-27
Highway Association
Will Raise $4,000
From Tuesdays Dairy.

Nhc WIN VI idlsius IuuuS tOf Tue
construction OF the Mankato- Bloom
ington road, and hopes TO see salts
factory arrangements made with the
United States government so that
the appropriation OF $4,000 which
the government made and later
withdrew, will be actually given for
the work.
meeting of the Mankato men in
terested In the project, presided over
by F. z. Crandall. president OF the
Commercial club, was called this
morning to consider the latest move
OF the. government concerning the
money. Senator II. N. Benson OF st.
Peter, president of the highway as.
ISOLATION, was present and spoke. He
read communications from Congress
man Davis and others, relative to
the federal appropriation, and In
Mr.. Davis letter. he said that he
believed that II the association
would raise the additional $4,000
that the federal appropriation would
surely be given. He also advised
that enough additional money be
raised TO bring the total up TO $685.
900. In speaking of the govern
ment's revoking the appropriation
Senator Benson said II think that
IL was preposterous on the part Of
the government to take the action
they did"
Senator Benson believed that be-
cause so much work had been done
in the matter that they could not
afford to drop II, even II the gov
eminent makes additional demands.
He quoted State Highway Commits
sioner Cooley as saying that his
commission would no doubt give
some assistance IL Il was needed In
raising the required funds. He be-
lieved that the individual counties
could not raise more money, but
that more could be obtained from
the twin cities and the towns along
the route.
Judge Lorin Cray expressed him.
self as not being so very optimistic
as to the ability OF the association
to build the road which 1t could
be proud OF for that amount of
money, and also stated that he
thought the engineers employed by
the association had made their es-
Inmates low for fear that the figures
would brighten those interested out
Of the proposition. Wouldn't Il
better" he said ito dump the gov.
eminent over board and go about
building the road to Bloomington
Prairie Bridge ourselves?"
John II. Hohmann. the most en-.
thusiastic pusher Of the project said
he believed that a road which every.
one could be proud Of could be built
for $4,000 and have plenty of gra-
vel for a good road. He also was
strongly in favor Of not drawing
away from the government In the
matter, and showed that $4,000
would be withdrawn from the present
fund IL such action we're taken.
I'VE should not consider dropping
the matter at ALL" he declared. "The
counties should not be asked for
more money, but we should 20 TO
the big business interests OF the
twin cities and also of Mankato
for aid" He also reported that Il
was understood, though without OIL
cial notice that Hennepin county
had increased its appropriation
from $4,000 to $4,000. He believed
that $4,000 more could be raised
from the Minneapolis stores, .hotels
and automobile interests, and sug.
gested that the Minneapolis Civic
and Commerce association be ap-
preached and also that City Editor
Boughner OF the Minneapolis Tri-
oune be asked to do what he could
in the way Of editorial comment on
the matter. Mr.. Holman stated
that Mayer Brothers had told him
this morning that II Il was found
necessary to raise money for the
purpose of building the road by
subscription, to put them down for
SIS or $50.
The discussion ended in George
NJ. Palmer moving that II be the
sense OF the meeting that the pro-
ject be pushed to completion, and
that the Scenic highway association
formulate some plan for raising the
necessary additional funds. II. A.
Patterson seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
II is understood that q committee
which will include H. N. Benson,
John Hohmann and II. A. Patterson.
among others, will at once formu-
late some plan Of action which shall
include request for assistance
from the Minneapolis Civic and
Commerce association.
Senator Benson and Editor NV.
Grimes Of the lie Sueur News, were
the only out OF town men at the
meeting. About thirty members of
the Mankato Commercial club were
present.
Committee VIII Visit Cities.
John II. Hohmann and II. A.
Patterson Of Mankato and Senator
II. n. Benson of st. Peter have plan
ned to go to st. Paul and Minneap-
oils on Thursday and place before
the Association OF Commerce OF st.
Paul and the Civic and Commerce as
sociation OF Minneapolis the pro-