The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-10-08

NJ. Palmer Will be pleased to aid
dress farmers clubs and other
organizations In Blue Earth
county that desire to be enlioht-
ended on the merits Of Amend
ment No. 1. A call sent to either
gentlemen will bring them to
meeting. 1t lis the desire OF
Messrs. Hohmann and Palmer to
meet with those who may be OPP
posed to the plan and discuss
with them the objections which
they may bring to the fore.
John II. Hohmann and George NJ
Palmer of Mankato addressed a.
meeting in the opera house at YER
non Center, Saturday night, in the
interest of Amendment No. !, other
wise known as the Babcock plan of
highway betterment in Minnesota.
The speakers were favored with
splendid audience which displayed a
keen desire to learn all that was EOS
sible about the proposition that II
adopted at the election dated for No
vember next will lift Minnesota out
of the mud. A number Of ladies were
in attendance, and they are lending
their efforts toward the passage Of
the amendment.
Mr.. Hohmann Introduced.
Robert. G. Champlin presided over
the meeting. He introduced Mr.. Hob
mann, who began his address by re-
ferring to the road laws that have
been enacted by the legislatures Of
Minnesota in the past and the enact
ment under which roads are con-
structed at the present time.
He called attention to the ever in
creasing amount of traffic on the
highways of this state and the neces-
slty for mere modern construction of
roads that will bear up under this
additional transportation. The Bah
cock plan, he explained, is the result
OF careful study: Its adoption will
mean the building Of over 1000
miles of trunk highways in the state
and the money which is now expend-
ed on the main travelled roads will be
devoted to the betterment of the
feeders. 1t means that far superior
road will be constructed to the very
doors OF farmers whose premises do
not touch the trunk lines and this
Improvement will be made without
any additional cost to the farmers.
Auto Owners Pay Cost.
MI Hohmhnn made it clear to his
audience that the cost of building
the trunk lines will come out of the
pockets of the auto owners of Min
nesota-that no additional tax will
De lived on the property of the peo-
pie. From the auto owners it was
expected that 100000 will be OBJ
tanned, and the federal government
Will add to this sum some thing like
$2,500,O00. If the Amendment fails
to carry the federal aid will be lost
to Minnesota.
Mr. Holman stated also that If
the Amendment is adopted the legis-
lature will be empowered to create
a commission who will have charge
OF the road construction. 1t will not
De one man affair. as has been
charged by opponents of the plan.
Remarks by Mr.. Palmer.
George NJ Palmer discussed the
great benefits that will accrue to the
people of Minnesota through the
adoption of Amendment No. 1. It
VIII mean the building of system of
highways in this state that will be
second to none in the entire co,in
try 1t will be social and CONNER
clal impetus and. entrance the value
OF farm land because of the large in
nux of people from other states who
Will desire to own property and farms
In a commonwealth that is blessed
with superior highways. $
MI. Palmer said that Il was not
designed to construct all the trunk
iihcS VI CoHcTete, OUT SOIL conditions
must govern the kind of material ,
that will be used. He contended
that If the amendment was adoINed
the automobile owners will save
money thereby. There will be less
wear to the cars, a less amount Of
gasoline will be used and the saving
In tires alone will be an item of con.
sequence.
Cities Receive No Benefit.
The sneaker directed attention To
a point that should be digested by
tnose people who live outside the
larger cities. For instance the auto
owners in st. Paul and Minneapolis
VIII pay something like a million
the trunk lines and not one dollar
OF that amount will be expended on
the streets of those cities. r.
Mr.. Palmer said that by the, time
the amendment and the legislation
incident thereto Is made operative
the federal government will be in :.
debted to Minnesota in the sum OF
S5.000,000. If the amendment fails
at the coming election that large
amount OF money will be transferred
TO the credit of a more progressive
state that Is In favor of the con-
struction of permanent highways.
Con we afford to lose that $4,000
0O0?" asked Mr. Palmer.
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