The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-08-05
North Kato Folks Called
On O. A. SWenson
SEEK AID OF THE STATE
They Would Have Belgrade Ave
nue. Part of Babcock High
way System

in a body last evening to the fine
farm home of State Representative
Oscar A. Swenson of New Sweden
township, ten miles north of Nicollet
where they held conference with the
representative, who Is chairman OF the
house committee on good roads, and
also chairman Of the road committee
OF Nicollet county under the babcock
pan. Inc object of the conference was
to bring pressure to bear to have
Belgrade avenue in the village of
North Mankato, which has been part
OF the main travelled highway for years
past, designated as part OF the Bah
cock highway. After very pleasant
drive through the cool of the
evening, the North Mankato delega-
ton headed by Mayor &. h. Ball and
consisting OF w. h. Stewart, Peter
SchwelIzer, w. +. Lessow, Gus Wheel
er, Village Councilman George Eber-
lein, Thomas Smith, Victor Gustafson,
Glare Walrath, John Kollmann, F. l..
bennett. Carl Weber, Howard b.
Stansield, Ira HenSel, William Page,
+. A. Lunde, John Minks, S. T. Aus
tin, William Skooge, Otto Rinde, John
Carlson and Dennis Donahue, arrived
at the home OF Representative Sven
son about eight o'clock, and the con-
ference was held out under the beauti-
fui trees on the spacious lawn in front
OF the residence.
Mayor c. E. Ball acted as spokes-
man for the North Mankato business
men, and with the aid OF a plat OF
the village OF North Mankato, ex-
planned why Belgrade avenue Is the
logical street over which the Babcock
highway should be designated. Mr..
Bail was very fair in his statements,
admitting that Nicollet avenue is the
shorter route form the foot of Bel
grade hill to the Main street bridge
by one tenth of mile, but just before
the bridge is reached there is a dan.
gerous angle in the street at a narrow
point, which makes that route not as
desirable as the Belgrade avenue
route. The speaker explained that all
OF the business houses Of the village
are located on Belgrade avenue, ana
1t was foc the business interests of
the village that he was Speakinf in a
large sense. Nicollet avenue is only
improved part of it's length, which in
very short lime Belgrade avenue
will be complete as to sewers, water
curb and gutter ETC., and then the vii
lage will be ready to do their part of
the paving beyond that portion paved
by the state highway commission. II
sure that the highway would be rout
business houses would be erected in
the very near furture.
Representative Swenson said that
not long ago he and Mr.. Babcock had
driven over both Belgrade avenue and
Nlcollet avenues, and that he had
noted the dangerous curve In Nicollet
avenue near the Main street bridge
but in the present instances he would
not want to make any promises until
he would confer with Mr.. Babcock in
regard to the matter. w. E. Stewart,
Dennis Donahue, Peter Schweitzer,
and several other gentlemen called
Representative Swenson's attention to
the fact that at least seventy five per
cent of the population of North Man
kato lies to the north of Nicollet
avenue. Representative Swenson fin
ally promised to acquaint Mr.. Babcock
with the details of the matter, and
call his attention to the fact that the
route over Belgrade avenue has been
III use ever since territorial days, and
Is now marked as part of the Black
and Yellow trial, the Sioux Historic
Trail ETC., Mr.. Swenson was to call
Mr.. Babcock this morning and see If
if he could not come down to Mankato
at some future date and hold a con-
ference with Mayor c. e. Ball, and
AS soon as this meeting Is decided
upon. Mr.. Swenson will notify Mr..
Ball.
Treated To Surprise.
When the North Mankato delega-
ton were about to depart for home,
Representative Swenson had a plea
SAINT surprise in store for them in the
way of refreshments. The gathering
was turned into a regular lawn fete,
when each one of the party was serv-
ed with cake and lemonade, which
was greatly enjoyed.
Mr.. Swenson has a fine 240 acre
farm, with splendid farm buildings,
and fine herd OF registered Holstein
COWS. Mr.. Swenson's father was the
first man in Nicollet county in 1880
to import a thoroughbred sire of that
breed of cattle.
The trip north through Nicollet
county last night to the home of Rep
resentative Swenson disclosed the
fact that that portion of the county
must have gotten great deal more
rain than the immediate vicinity OF
Mankato, for the corn crop is nothing
short of bumper crop, with not a
withered leaf on entire fields. The
odIS are large anu pump, ana the
crop still thriving. What is true OF
the corn crop is also true of the pas
lures, which are green as In the
spring time, and cattle by the way
side all look slick and fat. Threshine
was in progress in many places but
the party had no time to stop and en-
quire the yield. From the stand OF
shocks Of grain in the fields, however
there is an indication of more than an
average yield.
The Black and Yellow Trail be-
tween here and Nicollet Is as good as
any of the paved streets of this city
The shoulder of store at the foot OF
Belgrade hill where 1t joins Belgrade
avenue is now being blasted of by a
crew of men working under the d.
rection OF the Babcock commission
The roadway up the hill is also being
widsEed nj improved
Business men of North Mankatc
have tahen ste"s I" ESTE :, u rss'
camp site near the village water
works station at the wese end OF
Belgrade avenue.
The state convention Of the Luther
league was held in st. Peter from
Thursday until Sunday. The Officers
chosen for the coming year are as fol :