The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-11-26
Highway Controversy


A CITATION in Redwood Falls for favorable re-
n location of Highway No. when it is prepared
for paving, has stirred jealousy at Springfield
and resulted in considerable editorial comment both
there and in other towns along the route.
On one side Window, Sanborn and Redwood Falls
line up retain what the state constitutional amend
ment creating the highway system gave them while
Springfield takes the field alone in effort to secure
change in the routing which would ignore the amend
ent or at least it's implication and benefit that city
only.
The first argument advanced editoria.!y is that
the road if built through Springfield would tour
lists several thousand dollars each by cutting down
their mileage from Iowa to the lake region 1t ignores
the fact that tourists interested in such beauty
spots Ramsey state park and advances new in
terest in the tourist trade Judged by reports of the
Ten Thousand Lakes association, the state is inter-
ested in what tourists spend here not what they
If direct routing the aim of the highway
amendment roads would have been laid out along
parallels and meridans through the state without re-
gard for cities parks. However, the amendment
had in mind the citizens of the state rather than the
tourists who simply dash through. 1t designates
routes between towns quite definitely and the highway
department has followed these designations, Boosting
occasionally of savings in mileage between towns but
not entire routes.
Even if the saving were to be to citizens of the
state the Springfield proposal has little weight since
some 40 miles OF ROAD TO route
direct from Jackson to Morton would cost immense
of money. Springfield, the only intervening point
the proposed route would be the only city bene-
fit.
study of the map of Minnesota reveals that al
most every county seat in the state is directly connect
ed with county seats in adjoining counties. Other
towns were included in the routes wherever conven
lent but several towns approaching Springfield in
population widely missed. In fact Springfield
would have been missed had not the legislators turn
ed No. abruptly south few miles north of that city
in its course between New Ulm and Tracy We know
of but county seat in the state, Mantorville in
Dodge county, which has a stub built to connect it
with trunk route. Mantorvle is smaller than Spring
field.
v The Springfield editor has advanced the argument
that 100000 tourists would ID miles their trip
into Northern Minnesota if the highway routed
direct between Jackson and Morton. In this he has
disregarded the large number who turn west here to
go to Marshall Grants Falls, Montevdeo, Ortonville
and other points in that sector For them there is
saving in being routed to Morton
The highway amendment mentions towns to be in
cuded in each route and declares they shall be afford
ed reasonable of communication each with the
other and other places in the state. Sanborn is
toned in the routing which would building and
maintaining six mile spur to the proposed No.
to comply with the law in any The editor sug-
gests spur to No. Z, two miles south, which would
mean driving from here to Norton from Morton to
Springfield and west on No. to the spur and then
south again to reach Sanborn by trunk route. Could
that possibly be interpreted "a reasonable means
communication"