The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-05-04
EXPENSE MOUNTS;
PROTESTS STRONG
An Inquiry To Result, Pro-
vided 1t Is Legal
ROAD APPEAL MADE
Commissioners Are Not Ready
To Take Action On
Proposal

Lake Crystal and Garden City. and
farmers living in the surrounding
territory appeared before the Blue
Earth coutny board in session this
morning and requested an investi-
cation of affairs OF County Ditch No.
Sc and the designation as a state
ming south Of Lake Crystal to con-
meet with the road west of Vernon
Center TO serve as an outlet for the
rich farming community of the
southwest section of the country.
George W. Champlin, attorney of
Lake Crytsal, was spokesman for
both delegations. A number of
other men from both sections spoke
strongly in favor of the board
granting the two requests.
In the matter of ordering an in
vestigation of the county ditch. the
board assured the members of the
delegation it would let them pick an
attorney and engineer to do the in
vestigating. provided County Attor-
ney c. z. Phillips ruled it would be
legal.
At the close Of this mornings
meeting the board gave the road de-
legation to understand it's petition
would be given the same considera-
ton that fifty odd state aid road pc
titions now on file would be given.
The ditch delegation declared
they wanted the investigation before
the final acceptance Of the ditch to
find out : whether they had any
grounds for the continued objection
which they had been making to the
large increased expense for the con-
struction of the ditch.
Want An Outside Attorney
1--WE want this investigation to be
conducted by an attorney outside
the county who is well versed in
ditch affairs" said Mr.. Champlin, in
speaking for the first delegation.
along this ditch are vitality interest
ed to know why the expense of the
ditch has been mounting up until
It has passed the quarter million
mark"
The objections or complaints Of
the ditch property owners is made
on the fact that the bid for the con-
struction work was made for more
than thirty per cent over the esti.
mated cost of the work. And also to
a large amount OF extra work and
charges which have been made and
which were not included in the es-
Inmates.
The farmers are complaining that
time is going on and they are pay
ing interest on the money paid for
the ditch and no. results have been
obtained. Members of the delega-
Of farmers would go to the wall" If
the ditch matter was to go on as it
has with no results attained.
"The expense Of that ditch has
become a great burden to the farm
ers in that community and the ditch
must be gotten in working condition
Immediately or greater hardships
will be placed on these people," de-
clared Attorney Champlin.
Recommendation Is Made
Mr.. Champln recommended that
C. o. Fossen Of Montevideo MIMI,
be selected as the attorney to in
vestigate the matter. He stated
that the farmers were willing that
the assessment of the attorney fees
be placed on the expense OF the
ditch, as it would mean but a small
assessment to what they had al
The board told the delegation to
draw up a petition naming the at
torney and the engineer they desir-
ed to have investigate the matter
and present 1t to the board at to-
morrow's meeting, when it was prob
able an opinion from the county at
torney would be received.
Although the town boards of Lake
Crystal and Garden City offered to
finance the construction of the pro-
posed road so as to have it desig-
mated as state aid road, the mem
bers Of the board refused to take
immediate action on the matter as it
would conflict with an adopted pol
icy of designating no roads until 1t
was possible to start immediate con-
struction.
Strong Arguments Made
Members of the delegation made
strenuous argument in favor of the
road, pleading with the board for
early construction of the road as it
was what they termed one of the
most important stretches of cross
roads in the county and one which
would give hundreds of farmers good
access to Lake Crystal and Manka-
to-, They contended that with the
road in the bad condition it is at
present, southwestern county farm
ers would have great difficulty in
coming to the northern part of the
county. 49,
G. N. Alderman, chairman OF the
county board told the members of the
delegation that the board could not
accept the road financing offer of
the two town boards as it would
mean an added Indebtedness. for the
oar. in as much as the road would
have to be accepted by the state
highway commission before 1t was
designated as a state road.
Two delegations from the CONSOLE
dated school district met with the
oar this afternoon regarding the set
ting off of certain property into
common school districts. .
At the opening of the session this
morning a large delegation of pro.
perry owners along North Front
street, headed by Frank Mahowald
city councilman, as spokesman, ap-
pered relative to assessment Of tax
es of their property which they
Lclaimed was too high. The board
passed a motion requesting c. L
Kennedy, county auditor to confer
with the city council and city as
SCISSOR, and ask them to investigate
the assessment of the district ant
determine how the affected parties
could be relieved.
i Pursuant to an agreement made
lin 1919, the board approved the pay
lment of 500 each to Carl 0. Wilson
land to Gilbert Gilbertson for tilint