The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-02-08
LABOR ON THE ROADS
URGED BY KATO CLUBS
Commercial and Auto Folk
Take Up Matter
MONEY FOR HIGHWAYS
Help Extended BY the 0rgani-
cations To Improve Routes
In Country

A joint meeting of the good roads
committees of the Commercial and
Automobile clubs was held yesterday
afternoon and a good deal of business
was transacted. A request from Column
bus Ballard and others for assistance
in completing the crawling of the poor
farm road was received. 1t is a-.tse-
stood that the township has appropri-
ated $3.50 toward the work, and that
the farmers are willing to donate some.
The committees voted to appropriate
an amount equal to any donation made
by the farmers up to a reasonable
amount. 1t is said that the farmers
have recently made large cash dona-
ton.
A request from Mr.. Ballard and
others for assistance in trying to work
out the Strengthening of the road
from James avenue across the creek
to the hill road was considered, and
it was the general opinion that the
road ought to be Strengthened and a
new and wider culvert constructed on
the straight road. 1t is now located
just in a sharp turn and makes the
turn very dangerous. 1t was decided
to accompany the Mankato town board
and farmers living on the road before
the city council on the matter at an
early date.
County Board On the Job.
Highway Engineer Moe stated that
the county board intends to grade and
gravel the st. Clair road from Man
kato to st. Clair the coming year, at
a cost roughly estimated at $4,000,
but that it might be necessary for the
clubs to procure the money for peri
cd of six months or so, until the
county has funds to pay for the work.
1t is understood that the clubs are
willing to do this, paying the interest.
A request for assistance in gravel
ing a portion of the OShawa road in
Niccllet county was received, and it
was felt that this is very worthy
project, and $500 was appropriated,
provided an equal amount is raised by
the farmers or others.
A request was received for assist
ance in improving the Judson road
not far from the Old Dutch windmill,
and 5000 was appropriated, provided
that South Bend and Judson township
expend at least $500 on the work, and
provided the work is done under the
supervision of Mr. Moe.
The committee that went before the
county board to talk over the road stu
alton for the coming year reported that
the board will take care of the state
roads in good shape this year, without
assistance from the clubs, and that the
latter were advised to eXpend their funds
wholly on other than state roads, as the
county does not intend to spend money
on any but state roads this year. This
will relieve the clubs Of donating toward
the ,upkeep of the Madison Lake and
Minneopa roads, as well as other state
roads.
Improvement of the Loop.
The automobile club good roads COM
mlttee took up the Improvement of the
loop road from Madison Lake through
connect with the st. Peter road for
which the Automobile club appropriate
$500 or more at it's annual meeting last
month. 1t was decided that the portion
of the road that was newly graded last
fall near Washington lake, ought to be
graveled before the spring thaw comes.
1t has been partly graveled. but it was
decided to get what assistance is possible
from the farmers and the jamestown
board and go ahead as soon as possible
with this part of the improvement. Coun-
ty Surveyor Allison agreed to locate the
gravel needed and ]. II. Macbeth was
appointed to arrange with Con. " John
ston or some other responsible man liy-
ing near the lake to take charge of the
work and carry it through to completion