Construction of Blue Earth County Bond Deferred Until Springtime.

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NEW HIGHWAY

BETWEEN NEW ULM AND MANKATO

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Cost Will Be High, Is

Reason No Action Has Been

Taken by Commissioners

of Two Counties.

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Action leading to construction of the proposed highway between a point west of Cambria and New Ulm and ordered by Brown county district court and state supreme court more than two years ago, will not be taken until spring.

Representatives of the Blue Earth county board of commissioners and the Brown county board, in conference at New Ulm Thursday, decided to postpone further consideration of the matter until they may view the route of the proposed road. Construction of a road giving access to the property is expected to result.

Commissioners Thomas H. Foley and B. D. Hughes represented the Blue Earth county board at the meeting. All the Brown county members were present with the exception of Commissioner Johnson. Delegations appeared to request construction of the highway, action on which has been laid aside because of the expense involved and the presence of other highways nearby. Between Blue Earth and Brown counties there is no controversy, however. Three years ago when construction of the highway of less than five miles was requested, these counties fought the project. In Brown county district court a hearing was held, and construction of the highway was ordered.The counties appealed to the state supreme court, which affirmed the decision of the lower tribunal. The conference Thursday was provoked by a letter written Blue Earth county commissioners several weeks ago, requesting action on construction.The counties have opposed construction of the road because of the expense involved and the presence of two highways short distances away. In Blue Earth county alone, it is said, over 7,000 trees would have to be removed, and nine bridges built in a mile and one-half.

Difficult to Construct

Access to timberland brought about agitation for the joint road. The proposed highway starts near the old Dan Williams’ farm, west of Cambria, running to New Ulm along the railroad right-of-way. Construction called for would be sidehill work almost exclusively, according to highway engineers. Two miles away lies trunk highway No. 7, leading to New Ulm, while at a distance varying from one to two miles on the other side is situated state aid road No. 21, already graded and graveled and serving the same territory on the whole.

Brown County Journal,

Feb. 26, 1926

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