The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-03-04
Hard : Surfaced Highways
Are TO Be Sought
AUTO CLUB IS AT WORK
Important Meeting of the Gov
erning Board Was Held Yes
terday Afternoon


kato Automobile club held a meeting
yesterday and took action on several
matters of Importance to the club and
the community The most important
matter was that of trying to secure
for Blue Earth county the early con-
struction of some hard surfaced
roads, under amendment No. !. Pres
ident Charles T. Taylor, who has
been active In trying to bring this
about, reported on what he had learn
ed at the annual meeting Of the Mimi
esota State Automobile association,
and from other sources. 1t appears
that a big effort will be made to pave
the highway from the twin cities to
Duluth first, with view to opening
northern Minnesota to settlement as
rapidly as possible. At the same time,
it is not thought that the rest of the
state i'll be entirely neglected in this
matter, but it seems to be the inten-
ton of the state highway department
to first construct high class graveled
roads, and where it is shown that thew
cannot stand up under the traffic to
hard surface them.
Some Top Roads.
County Surveyor Allison stated that
Blue Eareh county has two roads that
stand close to the top when it comes
to traffic, as shown by the traffic CEN
sus taken last summer. One Of these
is the Madison Lake road. The
board of governors felt that owing to
the great amount OF traffic on this
road, and the fact that it leads to hard
surfaced roads in both directions, east
and west, 1t ought to be on the list
OF course, the board would like to
see all the state roads in Blue Earth
county paved, soon, but it realizes that
this is out of the question, and the
sensible course seems to be to try to
get one at time, taking those where
the traffic has been shown to be the
greatest first.
Held Early Conference.
1t was decided to hold an early con-
county board and the two highway
engineers for this county, to talk the
situation over and plan for the future.
The whole matter was left in the
hands of President Taylor to handle
as he sees best.
The Hammond Highway is paved
for some miles in the vicinity of St.
James, and the Jefferson Highway
north from Faribault.. 1t is felt that
the line of least resistance will be to
try to get paving laid toward these two
stretch, as this Is the policy of the
highway department, rather than to
locate little stretches Of paving here
and there without refereiice to a gem
eraI plan. It is felt that the Daniel
Boone trail to the twin cities will be
another road that win receive early
attention, extending the improve
ment through the county southwark
on either the Good Thunder or Maple
ton road little later.
The board of governors passed on
windshield emblems, and instructed
the secretary to place an order for
500 with q Chicago house.
The Sign Board.
The matter OF sign boards was
talked over, and 1t was decided to
place sign boards for each of the four
automobile trails that converge at the
Saulpaugh corner, and locate tho
boards along the sidewalk on the va
cant railroad property across Main
sign boards at other points, SO that it
will be made easy for tourists. TO
find their way out Of the city on the
right roaS1s. At present it is con-
coded that Mankato is one of the
hardest cities in the country for
strangers to get out of. The signs
will be ordered Immediately from a
Minneapolis house, and will be erect
ed as soon as the frost is out of the
ground. Many other signs will also
be put up, out of the city, as soon as
possible.
1t was decided to join with the Civ
ic and Commerce association in hav-
ing another edition o. strip road maps
printed, for the benefit Of automobile
tourists. This was left with the Sec
rotary.
After considering several other mat
tiers Of minor importance, adjourn
ment was taken.