The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-10-29
Mankato Automobile Club Will
Start Al Once Campaign Of
instruction
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
Safety is the watchword OF the
Mankato Automobile club. This de-
! veloped at the meeting that the club
held last evening at the city hall.
Steps are going to be taken to educate
the people up to proper traffic rules,
for the sake of their own security these
days, when so many people are oper-
ating automobiles through the city.
II Is the desire of the club that peo-
pie cross the streets at the right
places only, using the regular cross
ings. The club does not wish peo-
pie to cut diagonally across from one
corner to another, or to cross the
street In the middle OF the block.
These points were brought out by the
president, John II. Hohmann. and
others.
A motion by DR.. A. F. Schmitt was
passed instructing the secretary. Ben
Ba- gerter, Jr., to write to the heads
or he various schools in the city,
asking them to let the pupils know
that the club desired to Impress upon
them the necessity OF observing
traffic regulations. II they wished to
avoid danger from automobiles.
F. VI. Currier remarked that he had
noticed by the magazine. Sparks, that
there was likelihood of legislation
hostile and embarrassing to autoists
being enacted by the next legislature
II the autoists did not take steps to
promote public safety.
sauipaush Favored "Tattiins."
Clarence II. Saulpaugh was even
in favor Of "tattling." He believed
that every member OF the club ought
to tell the police of any violation OF
the speed laws or other traffic laws
| by any autoist. lie said 1t should
make no difference who the man was,
| or how good a friend he was of the
informer. he should "tattle" anyhow.
However, he said he did not think
this would be done.
Mr. Holman stated that the pres
ent membership of the club was 215.
| This showed a good recent increase,
yet he was not satisfied. He thought
| there were about 500 automobiles in
the city and the club ought to have
more members. He remarked that
Mankato had thus far held the honor
OF being third i'm membership of all
the clubs in the state association.
but Albert Lea and other towns were
coming on close, and something
should be done to keep Mankato
third.
A. G.. Johnson, county treasurer,
said the assessors books would show
all of the machines that had been as
sessed. The names and addresses
4 could thus be obtained, and lists
could thus be made of those who had
autos and did not belong to the club.
At length motion was passed In
| structing the president to refer the
matter to a special committee of five.
The committee will be named later.
This committee will solicit new
members.
Asked Help For Road.
President Hohmann presented a let
ter from County Commissioner Davis
asking that the club contribute $3.50
towards the Improvement OF the road
between Lincoln and Garden City. p
cross cut road going from Madelia to
Butterfield.
4. F. Soaring. secretary of the
Mankato Commercial club. brought
out the point that II was the declared
policy OF the Commercial and Auto
mobile clubs to help only with roads
that lead on: OF AIankato, and TO
| make tn" improvements consecutive,
SO that there would be no bad roads
between. No action was taken on Mr..
Davis letter.
There was quite a lengthy discus
sion over the bad condition of the
Madison Lake road. running from
Mankato to Eagle Lake. and II was
the unanimous opinion that some
thing should be done to drain II. The
need OF graveling that branch of Il.
known as the GAINESVILLE road, and
running from Buskey's corner to the
county line. was also brought out.
At length II was decided to refer both
OF these matters to the good roads
committees OF the two clubs, and to
request those committees to call on
the county board this afternoon at
two o'clock.
Seeking Auto Maps.
| Mr.. Soaring stated that many people
came to his office asking for automo-
bile maps through this part of the
county. Such maps should be pro-
vided. Mr.. Hohmann said he had
some such maps. Mr.. Hohmann stat
ed that some steps should be taken 10
see that there were good roads that
would bring to Mankato autoists going
on long trips over the state. This could
best be done by having the proper
roads in good shape and by having some
good maps to guide the strangers.
In the discussion Il was brought out
that there should be good inter-
state road running north and south
through Mankato and another running
throurh this city east and west
| +. NJ. Currier declared that the
county ought to have more road
signs. This was one of the poorest
equipped counties in this part of the
state In that respect.
DIR. c. G.. Pratt remarked that there
was bad road to be encountered 60
ing from the city hall TO the Blue
Earth river bridge. Councilman
Bekke said that would be taken care
| OF.
| County Attorney J. w. Schmit.
spoke briefly OF the good progress
that was being made on the Big Hin
stretch of the Lake Washington road.
! At the suggestion OF President