The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-06-17
CITY MERCHANTS
FOR GOOD ROADS
RETAILERS IN REGULAR SEES
SION MAKE RE-TER HIGH
WAYS S1-s,ECT OF DIS
CNesION.

Only with good roads will Mitchell
n the territory OF the surrounding
country be developed to its highest
possibility. That vas the theme en-
phasized in the regular monthly meet
ing last evening of the Retail Mer-
chants association and voiced by
every one of the list of speakers. The
meeting was held in the guild rooms
of s. Mary's church. where supper
was served at Z O'Clock.
John Kurvink, president of the
association, opened the subject with
the declaration that practically the
only complaint TO be found express
ed by outside customers of Mitchell
stores was over the condition of the
roads leading into the city. He de-
clared that the general belief was
that good roads %abounded in every
direction within Is to 90 miles, ex-
cept when they came close to Nit
chell. President Kurvink introduced
John w. Broadbent as the first speak
er on the subject.
THE roads around MITCHELL" said
Mr.. Broadbent, care said to be the
worst for miles. ! have even heard
it said that Dawson county had the
worst roads in South Dakota. If this
is true, it is certainly time for some
one to commence an agitation. Moth
ing would help us more, as merchants
and business men of Mitchell, thar
these good roads which we need sc
much. If the roads are bad, the peo-
pie won't come to town. And if they
don't come to town, we naturally
won't get the business.
cit looks like a disgrace tic
me, that when we have so much ma
terial with which to build roads, that
they are permitted to be in theil
present condition. Only yesterday,
Learned that 85 per cent Of the money
] raised by automobile licenses goes
back to the counties for the roads
THAT would mean about $4,000 fol
Dawson county and it should be sui
ficient to drag and keep our roads il
good condition. Today the roads are
lin a worse condition than when the,
were made, and it is high time tina
we, as business men, are looking
into the matter.
'In the Black Hills. the business
men put 100000 into four miles o
roads. Here we have better chances
to make business with our roads ant
we ought to do something. Som
isystem should be adopted and fol
lowed out, in line with u policy o
building up Mitchell"
Robert Burns made the plea tina
i good roads were a matter of bushes
which probably would help the farm
ers more than any other class. Tn
main reason we have 20 little mon
ely spent on roads,, said Mr. Burns
lis that the people who use the road
most don't realize how much the,
need them. | refer to the farmer
The men in town uses good road
largely for pleasure, whereas tn
man on the farm uses them almos
altogether. for business. A farme
with good roads can do with on
team whati it now takes several to dc
.If the Commercial club or tn
business men would agree upon
system of good road building an
maintenance, then in the winter tim
go to every school house and preacl
the gospel of good roads, I believe j
will result in an encouragement 10
the county commissioner to put nor
money into the work. The farme
needs the road every month in tn
tyear, one he can always haul a goo
load on, as he needs the road TO
business purposes and that alone.
every business man in Mitchell
~Iappreciates the need of good roads,
Declared Edward McGovern. If W
4 - A.. .-- ,,,> t.at-N trof IL. DONNA I
the territory nearby. and it Is sci
evident that good roads Will hel
largely In this. Our business huctu
ates with the condition of our DAD
n Mitchell tamely submits to lettin
bad roads keeping trade away. sh
alwayS continue to be nothing NOR
THAN a country town.
81 am heartily in favor of the goo
roads movement" said l.. b. star
..Tonight a mar came TO my plac
of business who had driven a motor
cycle all the way from Kansas. Her
he has to store his machine and 6
Inv train to his destination. Just o
account of the bad roads. This is tn
sort OF thing we want to avoid.
After discussion of the subject D
lothers present, the motion made b
In. u. Wagner prevailed that q goo
roads committee be named to tax
|~active charge of the good roads ques
|tion. President kurvink named a
members of the committee !. !,
Burns, T.. w. Broadbent IL f.. Z
Kelley. The latter, not a Yempe
of the association was named pecaus
of his position as president OF ln
lCommercial club.
Mr.. Kurvink named as the public
ity committee F! A. Redline. w. !
Ronald. G.. w. Downey, w. II. kin