The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-01-19
JOHN B. RICHARDS
AUTO CLUBS HEAD
Selection Was Made At the
Meet Last Night
PAVING IS FAVORED
Accident Insurance Discussed ;
Sign Boards and General
Topics Were Up.

MeupSES Ok Tic MhuhdlO AulO-
mobile club at their annual meeting
last night in the city hall elected
John b. Richards president for the
ensuing year, anad went on record
in favor of paving trunk highway
No. 5 from st. Paul south through
Shakopee, Belle PLANE, LeSueur,
ST. Peter and from the latter point
on the east side OF the river. to
Mankato and thence south through
to Gilmore.
At the opening Of the meeting, in
the absence of President Charles T.
Taylor, and vice president George
Atchison, J. B. Richards was elect
ed temporary chairman
SECRETARY Maurice j. Nelson in
making his annual report Of the
work uone by the association during
the past year, said that the activi-
ties OF 1922 were not as great as
during the year 1921, but the club
had done considerable good road
work and looking after tourists anu
seeing that they were directed to
the free camping grounds in this
city.
The total receipts for the year
were 81, zoos OF which $3.50 was from
membership dues and $45 was real
lied from advertising sold in the
for the past year had amounted to
$794.19 of which $3.50 had been
spent for road improvement and
1892, for dues to the state associa-
tion!- $101.75 had been spent for
windshield emblems; $145 had been
spent for strip maps and cuts, and
$3.50 for Secretary'S commissions.
This leaves balance of $1,301.10 in
the treasury at the close of this
year as compated with last years
balance of $1,0S619.
Report of Treasurer
The report of F. X. Meagher, as
treasurer of the club, showed the
same balances on hand in the treas
tary's report. Both reports we're &C
cepted as read and placed on file.
Last nights annual election re-
suited as follows: President, J. B.
Black; treasurer, F. K. Meagher;
secretary, Maurice J. Nelson.
The members Of the board of
governors will consist of the above
officers and E. F. Soaring, A. H.
SLIDER, and Otto Lamm. -.
President ]. B. Richards and
Charles T. Taylor were elected as
delegates to represent the club at
the annual state meeting to be held
In the twin cities February s..
Urged Accident Insurance
George Black, the newly elected
vice president, spoke strongly last
night in favor of every automobile
taking out liability insurance in or
der to protect himself and the public
against accidents. The speaker, said
that at least eighty percent OF the
reliable owners now carry that kind
of insurance, but the other twenty
percent, who in a great many in
stances are unreliable people and
have no regard for life and limb, do
not carry insurance, and il they
either damage car of another or
injure him personally, there is no
redress to be had. For that reason
he thought it duty that every car
owner owes to himself and the pub
Mr. Black would like to see legisla-
tiGn passed to that effect, and sug-
gested that senators and represen
tatives of this district should be so
instructed.
Practice In Neighboring States
Steps along these same lines are
now being taken in neighboring
states, and Mr.. Black thinks 1t will
not be long until Minnesota will
follow. Under present conditions
one is not safeguarded against reck-
less drivers, moonshiners under the
influence of liquor etc. Mr. Black
thought that the public who pay
high automobile taxes, have a right
I, 90 To-
surance, which in other words
might be termed as an indemnity
bond.
DR.. J. W. Andrews thought that
the idea was a good one, but had
some doubts as to the constitutions
atty of a compulsory measure of
F. K. Meagher said that he
thought that bicycle riders should
come strictly under the auto traf-
fic regulations. He gave several in
stances of utter disregard on the
part of bicycle riders for traffic
rules, which resulted in damage to
machines and personal injuries.
the placing of signs along the roads
leading out of Mankato should be
extended. Tt is one of the best forms
OF advertising that. could be under
taken. There are 500 already placed.
Those Advertising Signs
DR.. J. w. Andrews favored law
prohibiting the placing of CONNER
cial advertising boards along the
highways, owing to the fact that
they confuse and mislead the trav.
eler who is seeking directions to
some town beyond. ~.
\ +. F. Soaring was heartily in ia
Vor OF extension OF signs, and Of,
fered a motion which carried, plac-
ing the club on record of paving
trunk highway number FIVE from the
twin cities through Mankato and on
south to the state line at Gilmore. In
making his motion Mr.. Soaring
specifically stipulated that the paw
ed highway from st. Peter south to
Mankato should follow along the.
eastside Of the Minnesota river
instead OF the north side through
Nicollet county. Mr. Soaring said
that IL we sit idly by and do not
make our wants known we will get
nothing.
Local Highway Engineer, Joseph
Hruska said that he was of the
opinion that the state highway com,
mission would select the route for
the paving of highway number FIVE
, where il would do the greatest good
for the greatest number of people.
The highway commission had sur
veyed out the route from st. Peter
to Mankato on the west side of the
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