The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-02-07
AUTOS TO HAUL DRAcS.
DONATION WILL BE MADE FOR
REPAIR OF HIGHWAY
SMOOTH ROAD SURFACE
High Grade Gravel Must Be
Laid If Farmers Expect
Mankat0 Aid

An important meeting of the good
roads committees Of the Commercial
and Automobile clubs was held yes
terday afternoon al the club head
quarters, at which Managers Stewart
and Cook of the Standard Oil company
and Cedar Rapids Oil company were
present. The damage to soft roads
done by the heavy gasoline trucks
was cited, ard il was sought to as
certain whether ii would not be pos
sible TO keep them off of the roads
just after rains. II appeared from the
discussion that if the trucks do not
make their daily rounds some of the
farmers do ret get the supplies that
they want ard make complaints. To
meet this point il was proposed to
ask the farmers to carry little sur
plus gasoline. lubricating oil, etc, on
hand at all times, so they will not
be Inconvenience by the failure of
the trucks to come just after rains
in spring and fall. The farmers want
the roads kept in good condition. so
II is TO their interest to keep the
heavy trucks off of them at these
times wher they will do damage. and
II was thought that all would willing
~ comply. AT any rate the plan will
be given test in the spring. Both
OF the managers said that they are
using light trucks, not over a ton and
half capacity.
Dragging the Roads.
The question ofidragging the roads
was talked over, and il was felt they
Should be dragged at once, and also
That frequent dragging throughout
the year is essential 10 their proper
maintenance. The patrol system was
favored. 1t was also suggested that
an automobile or truck can draw, a
drag much faster than a team of
horses, and it was suggested that the
oil trucks might occasionally hitcl,
drag on behind and smooth off the
roads. Mr.. Stewart stated that his
trucks are not very busy just now
and he would donate the use of one
Tor week for the purpose OF drag
glng the roads Mr.. Cook has less
trucks. but offered 10 help in this
way what he could. It was arranged
10 get heavy steel drags for this pur-
pose. George W. ALVIN of Madison
Lake was called ZIP ari offered the
use of ore of his Ii is intended to
drag the Madison Lake ard Napoleon
reads, and perhaps others If The
weather holds good. The dragging
! Will haze 70 be done in the Afternoons.
when The surface of the roads is
tnawed The committees felt that the
OIL company managers had offered TO
DO a splendid service for the public.
Ihey do not like TO send their trucks
over soft roads, rs it is much mere
expensive, and unless forced TO do SO
Dy their customers. will CO. operate in
preserving the roads At the same
tlme, II was suggested that farmers
with heavy loads and drivers or
heaVy automobiles should also keep
on OF the roads at such times.
Request Fer Aid
request for aid in putting gravel
on the Pohl road was received from
the farmers who are back of the
project The farmers have offered 10
donate $50 loads, and the township
fZUe, and the committees agreed TO
give Sl0O more, which means load
Ior load Tor what the farmers donate.
me road is to be regravcied whore
needed from the city limits 10 The
Kennedy bridge.
request for aid in regrayeling
the road from Kerns north toward
oshaWa was received, and it was de-
cldcd TO hold meeting Of the farm
efs or The road and talk the matter
over.
IL was decided that the clubs will
no lorger assist the farmers TO gravel
Toaos unless they use good gravel,
fIhey VIII rot pay toward putting SAND
on me roads, as this is considered a
waste OF money.
request for aid by farmers on
the Lake Washington road, north of
WATERS, was received, but was laid
over for the present.
The need for those having dragging
contracts to drag now was empbas;zed
anu me different committee members
were asked TO see these, draggers and
encourage them TO get on the Job now
When this work will help to prevent
lhe ROADS from going TO pieces in the
spring. III was reported that some of
the roads are being dragged, which
was ielt TO be very encouraging news
Firemen's Pension Fund
me secretary, having received a
request from Representative Green
10 know how Mankato stands on the
Dill that he introduced TO REQUIRE
councils TO levy one tenth of a mill
tax for fireman's pension fund. and
as Mr.. Green desired an immediate
answer, as the bill comes up in the
house today, laid it before the com
m1ttees for ar expression of opinion.
After talking it over carefully il was
voted TO be the sense of the meet
ing that the measure is meritori-
Gus ore and should be passed
The committees felt that the coun-
ty ought TO own one or two tractors
and few dump carts and drags, and
that the outfit Should be kept at work
on the roads the year around, drag
sing and hauling gravel, so as to
keep the roads up at the least ex-
pense.