The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-11-12
TRAIL UNIT WAS URGED
BLACK AND YELLOW ASSO-
CATION MEN MEET
Minnesota Representatives Dis
cuss the Great Benefits From
This Highway


Civic and Commerce rooms this morn
ing for the purpose OF organizing,
state unit OF that association. John
II. Holman of this city delivered
the address Of welcome to the vist.
tors, and wished them success in all
their undertakings, for he vas confl-
dent that the establishment and i'm
provement of the trail will mean much
for the towns along the route.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hohmann's
address, Herman Polchow of Spring
field, head OF the Minnesota unit OF
the association took the chair and
called the meeting to order, and
called uron Thomas B. Roberts of
Pierre, ). D.. president Of the Trail
association, for a few remarks. Mr..
Roberts said that the idea OF the
Black and Yellow Trail originated in
the mind of Professor Solberg Of the
Agricultural College of South Dakota
about twelve years ago.
Professor Solbsrg went so far as
TO make blue print oil the proposed
trail. until John Deets of Mankato,
Who was then commissioner of i'm
migration OF South Dakota, called
meeting at Deadwood. where the DOS
sibilities OF the trail were discussed
and the enterprise launched. but the
World war coming on, attention cen
L,
interest in the trail Jagged until the
lroposition was again taken up at
commercial club meeting at Pierre,
s. D., In 1917. Mr.. Roberts, stated that
the Black and Yellow Trail is shorter
by at least $50 miles to the Yellow
stone National Park from Chicago
than any other trail laid out at pres
emit. 1t has the added advantages Of
being the most scenic trail, and pass
the country, rich in Indian lore, the
struggles. OF early settlement, etc.
Fer this reason the speaker felt con-
ndeut that at least 80 percent of the
tourist traffic west toward the Vel
iowstcne National Park would be
ever the Black and Yellow Trail. Mr..
Roberts said that in most instances
traiis and propositions of the kind
arc gotten ur' with the idea of mer-
cenary gain. This was not the case
70 .that OF the Black and ;Yelleaz ssrrafi
me ofncers DO not receive q cent
OF remuneration and are working
purely for the benefit of all cities and
towns along the route OF the trail. At
present the states OF Wyoming. South
dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin are
Interested in the proposition. Wyom-
ing II completely organized with the
exception Of one county. and South
Lakota Is completely organized and
II. Is hoped to have this state com
pletsly organized IN a short time. To-
morrow O mseting like the one held
here today will be held at Madison,
Wis. for the purpose of completing
me state organization in Wisconsin.
secretary 0. NJ. Phelps of Huron,
5. D; sroke at some length of the
benefts of the trail. He stated that
be wished az the outset to bring out
he. fact that the Black and Yellow
tran Is the Scenic Route" iTbe
shortest Route" The prime object
or the organization is TO develop the
Sltles and towns along the route of
me trail. Every city and town along
tne route should be interested in It's
cevelopm2nt. Starting at Chicago the
ira1l passes through some of the most
beautiful places in Wisconsin. inclnd .
ing the Dalls OF the Wisconsin and
many other points o. interest. Enter
ing the state Of Minnesota from Ia
crosse at Wincna the trail will rass
shrough Rochester Owatonna. Was.
eca, Mankato. New Ulm, Sleepy Eve
Springfield, Tracy and on through 10
huron etc. In this state some of the
mos. neautltuE scenery and historic
points are touched. From Mankato
west to the South Dakota line the
o ran is well graveled and graded an
In nrst class shape. In the state OF
south Dakota over one million dol
lars has been voted for the improve
nent OF the trail under the direction
OF the highway commission of that
state. In the state of Wyoming, Mr.
phelps said that considerable work
across that state from Gillette tc
Bunalo was recently made which
shortened the route some seventy Ave
miles and added two new towns n
The trail. Work is Progressing rapidly
in the Big Horn mountains and the
road direct to the National park will
be opened through that scenic noun
tain route by the middle of the sum
mer.
Mr.. Phelps said that the Black and
Yellow trail is the best 1865 day trail
in the state Of Minnesota. Among the
wonders to be seen in c2ossing the
state Of South Dakota is the Cave OF
the Winds. Crystal Cave. the fossil
beds and part OF the Bad Lands and
many other features of rugged beauty
MP. Phelps stated that the obiac
OF these state meetings is to com.lets
state units, and next srring 1t is pro.
posed to hold a Joint meeting of al
the states along the line of the trai
St Tracy, MINI, for the purpose o.
organizing under one, head.
After discussing ways and means o
financing the marking of the trai
from Chicago to Yellowstone Park
and appointing committees in the sew
eral counties Of this state through
which the trail runs, the delegates t.
the meeting were the guests Of tn,
members OF the MankaIo Civic anC
Commerce association AT a luncheon
at the Elks club. The officers of thu
association departed this Afternoon
for Madison. Wisconsin. where tomor
row there will be a meeting held like
the one held at Mankato today.
Those at the Meeting.
Among those who attended the
meeting Of the Black and Yellow
Trail Association in this city this
forenoon were the following. Presi-
dent Thomas Roberts ofbP errn. s ,,
Secretary o. NJ. Phillips of Huron, 8
= n. Minnesota State President Herman
APolchow Of Springfield, Mimi, Thomas
+ BonAalfie, DR.. G. w. Norris. c. C
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