The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on October 16, 1931, and is the first in a series about Luverne's Rock River bridge.
NEW BRIDGE AND PAVING DEDICATED YESTERDAY
Senator Schall and Charles Forbes, “Granddad” of Highway System, Participate in Program.
ROAD IMPROVEMENTS BIG ASSET TO LUVERNE
Rock River Bridge Among the Best in Minnesota; Main Street Approach is More Attractive.
Luverne’s bridge and paving celebration opened with a program at the bank corners on Main street yesterday when highway officials and Senator Thomas D. Schall addressed residents of Luverne and Rock county.
An informal luncheon was tendered the speakers at the Manitou hotel at noon, by a group of business men and American Legion members. The Luverne band presented a half hour program of music before the speakers were introduced.
R. C. Engan, chairman of the program committee, introduced H. E. Chard, divisional engineer who has been in charge of highway construction of No. 9. Mr. Chard gave a brief talk, thanking the residents of Rock county for their cooperation on the project and then introduced Charles A. Forbes, “the grand daddy of the highway system.”
Mr. Forbes has been identified with road construction in Minnesota for more than a quarter of a century. He related how he had toured the state with “Bob” Dunn, 25 years ago interesting the people of the state in good roads and working for passage of the Dunn amendment. He has lived to see Minnesota rank among the leading states in good highways and roads. Mr. Forbes explained that Minnesota is different from any other state in its legislation concerning jurisdiction of highway officials and in its equalization of state expense for the highway system.
Following Mr. Forbes, Mr. Engan introduced Frank Sell of Adrian, senator from this district in the Minnesota Senate. Mr. Sell then introduced Senator Schall who, after a brief statement concerning good roads, gave a political speech lasting an hour and a half.
Next week: Sen. Schall's speech.
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