Redwood County, Minnesota - Chapter 20: Highways and Bridges, 1916

The roads of Redwood county have exerted an important economic and social influence upon its destinies. Along the lines of the roads indicated in the government survey, the pioneers settled, and the existence of the military roads constructed before the Massacre was a powerful factor in the motives which caused many of the pioneers after the Massacre to settle here rather than elsewhere,

The first road in Redwood county was the old Military road, connecting Ft. Ridgely with the two Indian agencies. From Ft. Ridgely this road ran north of the Minnesota until reaching the. ferry at the Lower Agency. There it crossed the river, and ascending the steep bank, reached the location of the principal buildings of the Lower Agency in which is now Sherman township, in Redwood county. Thence it followed the general course of the Minnesota river to the Upper Agency on the Yellow Medicine. In places, this road was graded by the government. For the most part, however, it consisted of two wagon-ruts, which in time were worn deep into the prairie sod.

North of the Minnesota, and also following the general course of that stream, was the Military road connecting Ft. Ridgely with Ft. Abereombie. To the eastward, Ft. Ridgely was connected with St. Peter and Henderson. From St. Peter and Henderson, roads led in various directions. Thus road communication was early established between Redwood county and the important settlements of the Territory.

The next important road in this region, followed in this county, the course of the Cottonwood. It was termed Col. William Nobles' Wagon Road from Ft. Ridgely to the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains. The road was constructed in 1856-1857 by the United States Government under the direction of Albert H. Campbell, bore the title of "General Superintendent of Pacific Wagon Roads," but the field work was in charge of Col. William H.

Nobles. For two years Col. Nobles had a permanent camp at the "Crossing of the Cottonwood" in Lyon county, east of Redwood county, and there spent two winters.

In his report to the Secretary of the Interior, Jan. 18, 1858, Col. Nobles says : "I have located and built a good wagon road from Ft. Ridgely to the Missouri river, in latitude 43 degrees, 47 minutes, between Bijou hill and 'Fort Lookout.'

"The road has been selected and made with a view to accommodate the emigrant, by having a pass through a good country, and in the vicinity of wood and water ; and also, with these valuable considerations always in sight, I have been able to complete the road in almost a direct line from Fort Ridgely to the terminus of the Missouri river . . . The rivers on the road to be crossed are North Branch of the Cottonwood river (Sleepy Eye creek), Cottonwood river twice, Redwood river, Medary creek, Big Sioux river, Perrine creek, Riviere du Jacques or James river, besides a number of small creeks.

"On the Cottonwood, I have constructed a rough bridge, adapted to the present travel, but it is important that this river should be well bridged at both of the crossings."

"This road was completed only as far as the Missouri river, 254 miles, some time in the fall of 1857, in consequence of the insufficiency of the appropriation.

"The general location of this road is as follows: Beginning at the ferry on the Minnesota river, which is 150 feet wide at this place, opposite Ft. Ridgely. The general course of the road is southwestwardly, passing through a marshy region a few miles south of Limping Devil's lake to the noi*th fork of the Cottonwood (Sleepy Eye creek), a distance of about seventeen miles, thence to the Cottonwood river, over a rolling country, with lakes and marshes, about one and a half miles below the mouth of the Plum creek, distance about nineteen miles. From this point the road continues across Plum creek, and three good watering places, to the crossing of the Cottonwood at Big Wood, about eighteen and a half miles. Thence ... to the Big Sioux river . . . This road, as far as built, is remarkably direct and is believed, from the description of the country through which it passes, to be the best location which could have been made, securing a plentiful supply of water, grass and timber."

The crossing of the North fork of the Cottonwood (Sleepy Eye creek) and one of the crossings of the Cottonwood, were in this county. The route crossed in this county, Brookville, Sundown, Charlestown, Lamberton, North Hero and Springdale township. In Brookville, a branch extended north, passing through Morgan to the Lower Agency in Sherman township.

In the late fifties, when settlers pushed out to the Lake Shetek country (in the northeast part of Murray county, and a few miles southwest of Redwood county) they came over the Nobles road to North Hero township, and then switched off, and proceeded southwest along the general course of Plum creek. This route is said to have been taken because water was more easily obtained.

In 1855, Aaron Myers and family established themselves in section 31, Amiret township (township 110-40), some six miles west of the present western boundary of Redwood county. In 1857, Mr. Myers sent one of his men, John Renniker, with his oxen and a wagon, to New Ulm for supplies. Renniker, who had previously lost his position with the Dakota Land Co. (this company in 1857 had platted a village called Saratoga in section 1, Custer township - township 109, range 41 - seven miles west of the present Redwood county line, and left Renniker in charge) for selling intoxicants to the Indians, bought a ten gallon cask of whiskey on his own account at New Ulm and started home. John Campbell, a half breed, followed after with a party of seven Sioux warriors, overtook him in North Hero township, near where Col. Noble's wagon road crossed Plum creek, and murdered him, after which they took his goods. Charles Hammer (Swede Charlie), Hoel Parmle and Andrew Koch, friends of the murdered man, found his body, carried it to Saratoga, and buried it on the ridge north of Mr. Myers' house in Amiret township.

Sometime before the Massacre, John P. Burns and Daniel Burns settled in the walnut grove that has given its name to the village of Walnut Grove. They belonged to the Lake Shetek colony, but by fleeing saved their lives at the beginning of the Indian Outbreak.

In 1861, a route was laid out from New Ulm to Lake Shetek, which crossed Redwood county south of the Nobles road, and branched to the southwest two miles east of Walnut Grove.

On the route between New Ulm and Lake Shetek, Charles Zierke, commonly known as "Dutch Charlie" lived near the point where Dutch Charlie creek enters the Cottonwood, in Charlestown township. He was fleeing toward New Ulm with his family at the opening of the Outbreak, when he was overtaken by the Indians. He managed to escape, reached New Ulm, organized a posse and rescued his family.

The third road projected by the government, followed the general course of the Redwood river through this county. It is mentioned in the government survey, and appears on some of the early maps of the land office, though many of the early settlers declare that nothing was known of it in the days of the early settlement. The route started at the road connecting the two agencies, and extended westward through Redwood Falls, Sheridan, Vesta and Underwood townships.

The earliest settlers after the Massacre reached Redwood county in various ways. Some came by boat. For the most part, however, they came with horses or oxen. Many struck out boldly over the unbroken prairie. There were, however, several regularly established routes of travel. Many who came to St. Paul or Minneapolis followed the Minnesota river to St. Peter. From there they struck out across Nicollet county, skirting south of the lakes, stopping three miles south of what is now Nicollet station, crossing the Redstone ferry below New Ulm and thus reaching that city. From there they reached Redwood Falls by following the old road by way of Golden Gate and Lone Tree Lake. Others coming from St. Peter did not cross the Redstone ferry at New Ulm, but kept along the north side of the river to Ft. Ridgely. From there they could cross the Minnesota at the ferry at that place, at the Martell ferry at the Lower Agency or else went to Beaver Falls and crossed at the Wilcox ferry near the old townsite of Riverside and the present village of North Redwood. Later a ferry was operated at Vicksburg, which was across the river from the northwest corner of Delhi township. Some early settlers reached Ft. Ridgely by way of Henderson, taking the old government trail from that place.

Many of the early settlers did not go to St. Paul, but came up across the prairies to Waseca and then to Mankato or St. Peter. From Mankato the trip could be made on either side of the river. However, in 1872 when the Winona and St. Peter Railroad was built through the southern part of Redwood county, most of the pioneers began coming to New Ulm or Sleepy Eye by railroad and in 1878 the railroad was built to Redwood Falls itself.

Much of the attention of the county commissioners since the first organization of the county has been devoted to the subject of roads. The earliest settlement being at Redwood Falls, it was natural that the first road action taken should concern the roads connecting Redwood Falls with Ft. Ridgely and New Ulm, and as there were quite a few settlers in Yellow Medicine county, who were then included in Redwood county, and as Swedes Forest began soon to be settled, it was also natural that the next action of the board should concern the roads connecting Redwood Falls with those points. As settlements sprang up in Lyon county, action was taken in regard to a road along the line of the Redwood river. The earliest roads laid out by the commissioners followed, for the most part, routes previously selected by the government in agency days. In the southern part of the county two east and west roads or trails already existed. As the settlements began to grow along the Cottonwood region, the need of roads connecting the northern and southern parts of the county was seen, and roads were laid out from Redwood Falls to Springfield, and from Swedes Forest to Lamberton. Still later, a road

The first action regarding good roads was taken by the county commissioners at their first meeting, April 19, 1865, when Col. Sam McPhail was appointed road supervisor for the county, and the legislative grant for a state road from New Ulm via Redwood Falls and Yellow Medicine to the Whetstone river was accepted.

On April 20, 1866, the county commissioners declared that a public highway existed eastward from Redwood Falls along the township line between what are now Honor and Paxton townships to the southeast corner of Section 34 in what is now Honor township. From that point George Johnston, L. C. D. Brandt, and the county surveyor were to locate a road north to the Minnesota river, while beginning at that point also John McMillan, Cyrus D. Chapman, and the county surveyor were to locate and survey the road eastward to the Lower Agency ferry. The street between blocks 16 and 17 (original plat), Redwood Falls north to the saw mill, sixty feet wide was declared a public highway. Samuel M. Thompson, Jacob Tippery and the county surveyor were ordered to locate a road from the village of Redwood Falls by the most feasible route to intersect the old military road in the direction of the Yellow Medicine Agency.

Road petition No. 1 was presented to the county commissioners Sept. 4, 1866. David P. Lister and Henry Pratt were appointed to view the road and report. This road was to leave the military road at the house of George Olds, pass the houses of Benjamin Sanders, John Portner, Henry Pratt and the lime kiln and rejoin the military road at the Big Spring. The purpose of this road was to connect the people living in the bottoms with the military road.

Sept. 5, 1866, a road was ordered to commence at the old lime kiln at the Minnesota bottoms and running westward along the Yellow Medicine bottoms to section 31, township 115, range 38, at the old crossing of the Yellow Medicine, thence westward to the state line. I. G. Parks and John Winter were appointed to locate the road. Jan. 1, 1867, that part of this road which extended from the lime kiln to the crossing and the road was ordered surveyed from Redwood Falls on or near the line of the old military road to where that road crossed the Yellow Medicine river and thence west to the state line. David Doncaster of Yelow Medicine and Samuel M. Thompson of Redwood Falls were appointed to locate the road.

On Nov. 16, 1869, the board of county commissioners heard the petition to discontinue a part of what was termed the county road running between sections 34, town 113, range 35, and the ferry at the lower Sioux Agency ; that is, the part of the road which passes over sections 7 and 8 in town 112, range 34. This meant that the ferry at the Lower Sioux Agency was being abandoned and one a mile or two up the river substituted. D. 0. King and O. C. Martin were appointed to view the road and report. On Jan. 4, 1870, D. 0. King and 0. C. Martin reported favorably on the change. On May 25, 1870, the board ordered the old road discontinued and the new one laid out. On July 28, 1874, a petition was read for a change in the road leading from Redwood Falls to the Lower Sioux Agency. David Tibbetts and W. H. Hawk were appointed to view the road and reported at the next meeting. The committee reported favorably as to the change in the road and it was ordered laid out according to the report. On July 23, 1877, a bridge was ordered laid out according to the report. On July 23, 1877, a bridge was ordered built over Crow Creek where the county road crosses on section 35, town 113, range 35. The sum of $50 was appropriated for this purpose.

On May 19, 1871 a bill was read before the board of county commissioners for laying a state road from Redwood Falls west to the state line. It was rejected.

On Sept. 6, 1871, the petition for a county road from Redwood Falls via T. W. Caster's to Lyon county was granted. Caster at that time lived on the line between section 19, Underwood township, this county, and section 24, Stanley township, Lyon county. This road was therefore to follow the south bank of the Redwood river.

On May 19, 1871, the board of commissioners appropriated $75 for repairing a part of the stage road from Redwood Falls to New Ulm, provided that Redwood Falls appropriate $50 for the same purpose. On Jan. 5, 1876, $200 was appropriated to be expended in grading the hill north of "Wabasha creek, commonly called "Wabasha Hill."

On Nov. 3, 1871, the county commissioners appropriated $50 for repairing and completing the approaches to the county bridge over the Redwood River, provided that Redwood Falls also paid $25 for the same purpose. On June 15, 1872, Harvey Wingett was directed to oversee the work of repairing the county bridge across the Redwood river.

On May 3, 1872, a petition was read before the board for a new county road from Redwood Falls via Swedes Forest to intersect the Yellow Medicine road on the western boundary of the county. Harvey Wingett and D. Tibbitts were appointed to view the road and report at the next meeting of the board of commissioners.

On June 4, 1872, the board of county commissioners appropriated $60 to repair county road No. 2 near the residence of G. N. Carter, provided that the town of Redwood Falls appropriate $60 for the same purpose. On June 14, 1872, on motion, the board amended the resolution of June 4, and released the

On Sept. 2, 1873, a petition was read for the change of the county road over sections 24, 25, 26, in the town of Sheridan. It was laid over till the next meeting, because it was necessary for D. Tibbetts and Jacob J. Light to examine the advisability of such a change. In the meeting of Sept. 16, 1873, the committee reported favorably and the change was made.

On petition, Nov. 21, 1873, a new county road from Redwood Palls to the south side of the county through the townships of Redwood Falls, New Avon, Willow Lake, Sundown, in the direction of Bevins Station in Brown county, the board appointed Jacob J. Light and D. Tibbetts to view the road and report at the next session. On March 12, 1874, the petition was granted and the road laid out accordingly. Fifty dollars was appropriated to one person for damages to her land, caused by the making of this road. Some money was also appropriated for building bridges on the above road. On Jan. 2, 1877, the petition was granted for grading the road through the "Big Slough" on section 28 in New Avon.

On July 28, 1874, a petition was read for a road beginning at Redwood Falls and running straight west to the county line. It was laid over till the next meeting and a committee appointed to view the same. The committee reporting favorably, the road is ordered laid out on Oct. 9, 1874. On March 10, 1875, a petition was read before the board to change a part of this county road. A. M. Cook and D. Tibbetts were appointed to view said road and report at a later session of the board of commissioners. On May 13, 1875, the road was changed between the center of section 10 and the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 11, town 112, range 36.

A petition for a new county road running from the south line of the southwest corner of section 34, town 109, range 37 (Lamberton), thence north to the intersection with the Yellow Medicine road, was read before the board on May 13, 1875. W. H. Hawk and D. Tibbetts were appointed to view the road and to report at a later meeting of the board of commissioners. On July 26, 1875, the petition was granted and the road was ordered to be laid out. No damages were paid to the owners of the land.

On May 13, 1875, a petition was read before the board of county commissioners for a new county road running from the village of Redwood Falls southeasterly past Three Lakes, and to intersect the county road at the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 24, town 110, range 35. A committee was appointed to view the advisability of the road and report. On July 26, 1875, this was granted and the road was declared a public highway.

On Sept. 20, 1876, a petition was read before the board for building a road from Walnut Grove to Redwood Falls. L. Bedall and the county surveyor were appointed to view the road and report later.

On Jan. 3, 1878, a petition, asking for a change in the county road from Swedes Forest to Lamberton, was granted. Mathias Keller and D. B. Whitemore were appointed a committee to make the change as asked for in the petition.

When the state atlas was issued in 1874, seven roads extended from Redwood Falls. The Beaver Falls road extended through what is now Honner township, cutting across sections 31 and 29, and crossing the river in the western part of section 21. A short branch of this road extended from the house of J. S. G. Honner west to the Redwood, and southeast through sections 29, 32 and 33. The Yellow Medicine road crossed sections 36, 26, 23, 15, 16, 9, 8, 5 and 6, in what is now Kintire ; crossed section 36, in Swedes Forest township, passed between the schoolhouse and the Swedes Forest postoffice at the corner of sections 25, 26, 35 and 36, Swedes Forest, passed west on the section line between 26 and 35, 27 and 34, 28 and 35, 29 and 32, 30 and 31, and angled northwest across section 30, past the Boiling Spring into Yellow Medicine county. A short road extended from Redwood Falls to the west line of what is now Redwood Falls township, crossing sections 2, 3, 4, 9, 8 and 7, Redwood Falls township, just north of the Redwood river. The road south of the Redwood river to the western boundary of the county at the west edge of what is now Underwood township, crossed sections 1, 12, 11, 10, 9, 16, 17 and 19, in what is now Redwood Falls township; sections 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 in what is now Sheridan; sections 25, 23, 22, 21, 20 and 19, in what is now Vesta township; and sections 24, 23, 22, 21, 20 and 19, in what is now Underwood. Ceresco postoffice was on this road in section 20, Underwood. The Springfield road crossed sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36 in what is now Redwood Falls; sections 1, 12, New Avon, followed the section line between 11 and 12, 13 and 14, 13 and 24, crossed 24 and 25, New Avon; followed the present town line between New Avon and Three Lakes, Willow Lake and Sundown, from section 25, New Avon, to section 12, Willow Lake, where it crossed the Sleepy Eye creek ; crossed sections 7, 8, 17, 16, 15 and 14, south of the Sleepy Eye in Sundown township, ran along the section line between sections 14 and 23, and then extended south between sections 23 and 24, 26 and 25, 35 and 36 to the south edge of Sundown and the south boundary of the county. The present Morton road extended due east from Redwood Falls to the Minnesota river, on the township line between the present towns of Honner and Paxton. The New Ulm road extended from Redwood Falls due east for seven miles on a line a mile south of the north line of Paxton, and on the line between sections 6 and 7, Sherman. At the agency it turned southeast across sections 8, 9, 16, 15 and 22, to Wabasha creek, thus following the present agency road from Redwood Falls to Wabasha creek. There it angled across sections 22, 23, 25 and 26, to the east line of the county and the east edge of Sherman township. The agency branch of Col. Nobles' road left the agency road in section 16, Sherman, crossed sections 22, 27 and 34 in Sherman; sections 3, 10, 15, 22, 27 and 34 in Morgan ; and sections 3, 10, 15 and 22 in Brookville, connecting with Nobles' road in section 22, Brookville. From section 27, Morgan, southward, the course was a winding one. Col. Nobles' wagon road entered the county at the east edge of section 24, Brookville. It left Brookville between sections 19 and 30, and entered Sundown between sections 24 and 25, crossing Sleepy Eye creek in section 24. It left Sundown at the southwest corner of that town and entered the northeast corner of Charlestown. It left Charlestown a little north of the line between sections 7 and 18 and entered Lamberton a little north of the line between sections 12 and 13. It crossed the Cottonwood in section 7, Lamberton, and left the township in that section. It entered North Hero township in section 12, crossed Plume creek near the corner of sections 4, 5, 8 and 9, leaving the township on the section line between sections 6 and 7. It entered Springdale on the section line between sections 1 and 12, and left the township and the county in section 6. One branch of the New Ulm-Lake Shetek-Lyon county road, entered Charlestown and the county in section 13, and joined the other branch in section 20. The other branch entered Charlestown and the county in section 36, following the north bank of the Cottonwood to section 19, where it crossed the river. It entered Lamberton township in section 24. At Lamberton village it turned south a short distance ; thence to the western boundary of the county through North Hero and Springdale, on the section line, two miles north of the southern county line. At the corner of sections 20, 21, 28 and 29, North Hero, a branch angled southwest across sections 29 to 31, to the corner of Redwood. Murray and Cottonwood counties, and thence to Lake Shetek.

Rude bridges were constructed along the Government roads before the massacre. The first appropriations made for bridges by the county commissioners Sept. 8 and 9, 1870, when $50 was appropriated for building a bridge over Wabasha creek, and $25 each for building bridges over Ramsey and Rice creeks.

Bridge building at Redwood Falls was inaugurated when the legislature of 1871 passed an act appropriating $5,000 for the construction of a Howe truss bridge across the Redwood river at the dalles. This bridge was entirely of wood. The bill was introduced by Hon. J. S. G. Honner, representative, and was passed only after a hard fight. The amount was the first considerable sum appropriated from the internal improvement fund created by the 5 per cent given to the state in sales of government lands.

March 16, 1871, the appropriation having been made available, a committee consisting of Robert Watson, D. L. Bigham, E. A. Chandler and A. M. Cook, was appointed to inspect the Redwood river with a view to determining the most suitable location for a bridge. The location at the foot of Third street was decided upon, and the contract let May 19, 1871. Later the bridge was several times repaired and renewed. Still later it was moved to the present location, where in time it was replaced by the permanent cement bridge which now ornaments the village.

In 1875, the state having appropriated $600 for a bridge over the Cottonwood, the commissioners on May 13, 1875, appointed a committee to select the site. The point selected was the section line between sections 14 and 15, Lamberton township. The contract was let July 10, 1875.

An appropriation was made Jan. 5, 1876, for a bridge over High Water (Dutch Charlie) creek; and on Jan. 2, 1877, for a bridge over Sleepy Eye creek, on the Lamberton-Redwood Falls road.

The Dunn law having been passed, the county commissioners were petitioned for the construction of numerous roads under its provisions, the first Dunn roads in this county being inaugurated in the fall of 1911. Since then, by following a systematic plan of procedure the present splendid system of Redwood county roads has been made possible.

The commissioners aim to have three north and south state roads, and three east and west state roads through the county, and in addition to this, to connect all the villages with these six principal thoroughfares.

State Road No. 1 extends from the Morton bridge westward, passing through Redwood Falls and Vesta, and leaving the county in the direction of Marshall, on the township line between Underwood and Westline. From the Morton bridge, this road runs south into section 1, Paxton, about half a mile. Thence it runs northwest in sections 1 and 2 until striking the township line between Honner and Paxton. Thence it runs westward on the north line of Paxton, Redwood Falls, Sheridan and Vesta, and the south line of Honner, Delhi, Kintire and Yellow Medicine county. On the north line of Vesta township, between sections 3 and 4 it turns southward, and runs on the section line to Vesta village. It leaves Vesta midway between the north and south line of section 16, and runs due west to the western line of section 15, Underwood. Thence it runs due south on the section line to the corner of sections 21, 22, 28 and 27 ; thence a mile west between sections 21 and 28, thence due south between sections 28 and 29, 32 and 33, to the township line between Underwood and Westline, and thence west on the township line to the west line of the county. This road will be completed before snowfall in 1916.

State Road No. 2, exactly divides Morgan township, extending from the middle of the south line of Sherman to the middle of the north line of Brookville, and thence extending one mile west on the township line between section 33, Morgan, and section 4, Brookville. It passes through Morgan village. The road is completed.

State Road No. 3 extends from the village of Morgan westward to the west line of Three Lakes township, midway between the north and south lines of the townships. This road, in time, will be extended westward through New Avon, Vail, Granite Rock and Westline townships, to the western line of the county, thus connecting the villages of Morgan, Wabasso, Lucan and Milroy.

State Road No. 4, is under construction from the east boundary of Willow Lake, due westward eight miles on a line midway between the north and south boundaries of the township to the corner of sections 14, 15, 22 and 23, in Waterbury township.

State Road No. 5, enters the county on the eastern line of Charlestown township, midway between the north and south lines of the county, and extends westward to the western boundary of the township. Thence it runs south half a mile on the line between section 19, Charlestown, and section 24, Lamberton. Thence it angles northwest in sections 24 and 23, Lamberton, to Lamberton village. From Lamberton village it runs westward, midway between the north and south lines of sections 21, 20 and 19. Thence it extends south half a mile on the line between section 19, Lamberton, and section 24, North Hero. Thence it extends westward across North Hero and Springdale, two miles north of the county line, to the western boundary of the county and the west line of Springdale. It passed through the villages of Lamberton, Revere and Walnut Grove. This road, the Springfield- Tracy road, was built under the Elwell law as State Rural High-

State Road No. 6 starts at the northeast corner of Sheridan and the northwest corner of Redwood Falls, and extends southward on the line dividing the townships. At the southeast corner of Sheridan and the southwest corner of Redwood Falls, it turns west a mile on the line between Sheridan and Vail. Thence it runs south, a mile west of the east line of Vail, to Wabasso village. Thence it turns westward a mile across section 23. Thence it runs southward, two miles west of the east line of Vail, Waterbury and Lamberton to the south line of Lamberton and the south boundary of the county. It passes through Lamberton and Wabasso village. The road is completed.

State Road No. 7 starts on the south line of Kintire township, midway between the east and west line of section 32, and runs north the whole length of the township, one and a half miles east from the west line of the township and the west line of the county. On the north line of section 5, Kintire, and the south line of section 32, Swedes Forest, it turns west one-half mile, and runs north the whole length of the township to the Minnesota river, extending just a mile east from the west line of Swedes Forest and the west line of the county. The road will be completed in 1916. It passes through Belview village.

State Road No. 8 starts on the north line of Westline township, between sections 4 and 5, and runs due south two miles east of the west line of Westline township, some two miles, to Milroy village. The road will be completed in 1916.

State Road No. 9 connects Morgan and Redwood Falls. From Redwood Falls it extends south on the township line between Redwood Falls and Paxton, to the southwest corner of section 7, Paxton. It extends due east a mile on the south line of section 7, Paxton, and then follows the diagonal course of the railroad southeast, crossing to the east side of the railroad just south of Gilfillan.

State Road No. 10 starts at the northeast corner of section 6, and the northwest corner of section 5, Sheridan township, and runs due south, a mile east of the township line between Sheridan and Vesta, to Seaforth village. This road will be completed in 1916.

Four more roads will probably be constructed in 1917. One will start at the northeast corner of section 3, and the northwest corner of section 2, on the north line of New Avon township, and run due south, two miles west of the east line of New Avon and Willow Lake, to the corner of sections 14, 15, 22 and 23, Willow Lake. Thence it will run east a mile on the line between sections 14 and 23, and thence due south to Sanborn, on a line a mile west of the east line of Willow Lake and Charlestown.

Another will connect Delhi and Belview, and another will start at Clements and run due south to the county line, midway between the east and west lines of Three Lakes and Sundown. Another will start on the north line of Brookville township, and run south on a line midway between the east and west lines of the township, to the very center of the township. There it will turn east a mile, and thence turn due south to the township and county line, running two miles west of the east line of the township and county.

Of the Elwell roads in the county, State Rural Highways Nos. 22 and 54 (will be state road No. 5) are completed. State Rural Highways No. 50, No. 74 and No. 93, will be completed in 1916.

State Rural Highway No. 22, extends south from Redwood Palls, a mile west of the east line of Redwood Falls township, to the corner of sections 23, 24, 25 and 26. Thence it runs west a mile, and thence south, two miles west of the east line of Redwood Falls township to the township line between Redwood Falls and New Avon township.

State Rural Highway No. 50 starts at the corner of sections 7, 8, 17 and 18, Paxton township, runs south a mile between sections 17 and 18, thence east a half a mile between sections 17 and 20; thence south a half a mile and east a half a mile in section 20, thence south on a line two miles east of the west line of Paxton township, to the line between Paxton and Three Lakes townships.

State Road No. 7 starts on the south line of Kintire township, midway between the east and west line of section 32, and runs north the whole length of the township, one and a half miles east from the west line of the township and the west line of the county. On the north line of section 5, Kintire, and the south line of section 32 Swedes Forest it turns west a mile, and runs north the whole length of the township to the Minnesota river, extending just a mile east from the west line of Swedes Forest and the west line of the county. The road will be completed in 1916. It passes through Belview village.

State Rural Highway No. 74 starts at Milroy in Westline township, and runs south on a line two miles east of the west line of Westline and Gales townships, to a point on the west line of section 8, Gales township, midway between the north and south line of the section. Thence it runs west through section 8.

State Rural Highway No. 93 extends straight south from Vesta through Luean to the corner of sections 21, 22, 27 and 28, North Hero township, running midway between the east and west lines of Vesta, Granite Rock, Johnsonville and North Hero townships.

Authority and References. The Records of the Proceedings of the County Commissioners of Redwood County in the custody of the Redwood County Auditor.