The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-01-29

bridge connecting a residential dis
Itrict Of. 1900 people TO n city Of -.
600 inhabitants with the farmers OF
nearly all Nicollet county crossing
this bridge to do their trading and
the bridge being the connecting link
between Main street (the oldest road
In Blue Earth county, and the state
rural highway leading through North
Mankato 10 New Ulm with the heavy
automobile traffic that these roads
would naturally attract, and consider
ing further that Immediately at the
cast end of this bridge Is the rail.
road crossing OF all the railroad
lines OF Mankato. g..
Some Disaster May Happen.
ut Is evident that under these con.
ditlons which are rapidly becoming
more and more unbearable the time
Is not far distant when a disaster win
wake up the people TO q full realiza.
ton of the wrong of allowing such
excessive traffic over n bridge never
constructed TO bear II. At a very
conservative estimate VIC may say
that the traffic over this bridge Is
increasing Mt n rate OF twenty per
cent annually. The city can therefore
no longer put of the building OF
new bridge.
AT tho present time .his city Is
still indebted in bonds amounting to
$4,000 for the construction of the old
bridge. The village of North Man.
kato is unable to assist. being bonded
to within $4,000 Of its limits OF
public Indebtedness. blue Earth and
Nicoliet counties have undertaken
considerable interior road construc-
ton and cannot be depended upon
for any very great aid towards the
obstruction of this bridge linking the
counties together. In its need there.
fore the city turns to your honorable
body for assistance in this work
which is so imperatively necessary
and so supremely beneficial TO our
city. North Mankato. Blue Earth
county. Nicollet county and To tho
state at large. 80
1T may be, safely assumed that
the new bridge will cost Ss0,0Oo.00:
and the aid we are asking of you Is
that you would allot to Blue Earth
county $4,000 in 1915 and $4,000 in
| 1916. and the same amounts To Nicol-
let county for the special purpose Of
constructing this bridge. such allOt.
ment 10 be in addition 10 the allOt-
ment allowed to such counties for
their other needs and purposes.
Under the bill recently introduced
| into the two houses OF our legisla-
ture these amounts could be paid
body upon the request of Blue Earth
and Nicollct counties. we, of course,
have been the commissioners of these
counties and feel satisfied that the
proper request for this aid he made
by both counties when the proper
time comes.
! I'VE realize that no action can he
taken by your honorable body until
the bill recently introduced into the
legislature has become law, but We
are submitting the present informa.
ton In advance that all the questions
involved may have your most careful
, consideration. and that You may have
the opportunity OF making the most
thorough investigation into the whole
matter. $685..
We are also furnishing herewith
n copy OF the bill introduced into the
Legislature on this subject. and hope
!, that you will give all these matters
your close attention and favorable
I consideration"
Representative John G.. Gerlich
has introduced n bill in the Mime.
sofa house, empowering State High.
way commission to aid cities of
third class in bridge constructions
from state road and bridge funds"
The measure was referred to the
! committee on roads and bridges. A
/ like bill has been introduced In the
senate by DIR. J. w. Andrews.