The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1929-09-04
HIGHWAYS IN THE SECOND DISTRICT


HIGHWAYS IN THE SECOND DISTRICT
The Brown County Journal, published in New
Ulm, is going to have paving in Southern Minnesota
if there is possible chance, and rightly In q
most recent article appearing in the Journal Com
missioner Babcocks 1880 paving program is criticized
The Journal editor has the "lowdown." The article
should be interesting every citizen in this section
of the state. 1t reads follows:
Contemplate the trunk highways in the Second
district with reference to lack of pavement and treat
ed thoroughfares! One of the best agricultural dis
tricts in the state is almost without any permanent
trunk highway improvement. We venture to say there
is like in the state population considered but
that has more permanent highway improvement than
the Second District Take highway map and observe
the state of Minnesota All permanently improved
highways radiate from the Twin Cities and most of
them within hundred miles of ST. Paul and
Minneapolis with the exception of that mileage, which
is conferred about the favored region Duluth and the
range towns.
The Second district has population of approx
matey onetenth that of the state of Minnesota and
contains but few miles of permanently improved
highways. Millions of dollars in farm products are
hauled over the highways of the Second district each
year, yet the highways of this section have been sad
ly neglected, when permanent improvements are con-
sidered Notwithstanding this fact the state highway
department goes right ahead and maps out program
passes up the Second district. The only paved high
way in next years contemplated program that will
have direct bearing upon this district is from St.
Peter to Mankato but this improvement has but 8
few miles within the district. The paving of No.
from Mankato to ST. Peter is but another link in the
improved highway program for feeders to the Twir
Cities.
The improving of Trunk Highway No. z, across
the southern part of the state is of great or
Importance to this section of the state than the
ing of Trunk Highway No. to the Twin Cities
with the paving of No. 5, it will doubtless be years
before No. 10 is improved No. Is furnishes direct
route to Northern Minnesota, without passing through
the congested area around the Twin Cities and tourists
from southern Minnesota, Iowa. and other states to
the South would welcome the paving of this route for
this reason but the Twin Cities seem to dominate the
situation, so it is likely years will elapse before No
10 is even rebuilt, let alone paved Bids were called
ior the rebuilding and rerouting of portion of this
highway south of New Um last year. but the contract
was not let, owing to lack of funds ACCORDING, to
highway department officials.
The Window Citizen last week in commenting
upon the Journals position with reference to the lack
OF permanent highway improvement in Southern Min
nesota, as compared with that in Northern Minnesota
states:
AS matter of fact it is Southern Minnesota
That should be doing of the complaining and
Mr. Babcock and believe that all the shouting on the
part OF Duluth and other northern Minnesota towns will
avail nothing, would bend every effort toward pro-
noting just such sectional fight the Duluth news
paper seems to want to start We believe that if the
traffic count were all year affair instead of one
week in August at the height of the tourist season
mat northern Minnesota would be left out in the cold
SO far as paving is concerned What section
paving more than this Southern Minnesota bread has
Ke the section of the state most fully developed and
most tckly populated? What roads are travelled most
IN the period from September to May when the state
is populated only by her people? Duluth should
be careful about starting anything. Southern Mime
sofa has not kicked about building highways through
tne wilderness, has not objected the numerous laws
that nave caused the people here to help paw for de-
Velopments to draw tourists up north We have beer
very good nelghbors. But will not scrap about it
we nave faith in Mr. Babcock to give us square deal
ana we nave bunch that the next few years will
Drng southern Minnesota some of the paving she has
long been entitled to-"
For many years the Journal took the same atti
tude, but we have watched Northern Minnesota AM
the area that feeds the Twin Cities secure all th,
permanent improvements on trunk highways, and nov
conclude that it is time for Southern Minnesota +,
demand her rights. We do not preach sectionalisn,
far from it, but do state without fear of contra
ctlon that the Second district in particular and South
ern Minnesota in general have not received fair treat
ment when it comes to permanent highways Tn
map shows it; the program for next year shows it
and there cannot be contradiction. 1t is time t
have less faith and much more action Faith withou