St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-02
THE STATE CONVENTION PASSES
RESOLUTIONS RECOMMENDING
IMPROVEMENTS.
ESTABLISH A STATE FUND,
PROCEEDS OF WHICH SHALL DE
DISTRIBUTED TO THE COUN-
TIES FOR USE.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
Committees Named to Carry Out the
Work Outlined In Convention
--Day,s Proceedings.

At the good roads convention yesterday a
letter was read from the board Of trade of
New Prague, inclosing resolutions indorsng
the proposed legislation looking toward the
abolition Of the system of working out road
taxes, and substituting a system of cash taxes,
the road work to be done by contract.
The first paper read was by Prof. U. S..
Grant, assistant state geologist. The storm
had delayed the delegates in getting together,
and although 10 o'clock was the hour named
it was nearer II o'clock before they were
ready to proceed. The order of the papers had
been changed in order to give full opportunity
for discussion of the practical questions
brought up by Prof. Grant, ''Minnesota's Road
Materials
The next paper was by Prof. Willet M.
Hayes, of the agricultural experiment sta
| ton One of the principal features which he
suggested was a systematic plan of the roads
of every county made by some competent
engineers of the state, toward which every
county should work. He said this would
make the farmers much more willing to have
a sufficient road tax, because they could see
that ultimately if not at once, they would
be the benefciaries Of the improvements made.
The principal paper of the afternoon was
on How to Get Better Roads, by A. B.
Choate. Mr.. Choate favored state control of
what he called the more important or state
roads; a system of county roads, and below
these system of township roads, each under
the control of competent officials but all con-
nected in one system. --.
After a review of the legislation now on
the statute books, he pointed out that the
next steps must include state control of the
roads and classification as indicated. He
urged that the principal thing was to get the
public mind aroused in favor of road reform,
and the legislation would come as a matter
Of course, as the lawmakers are only too
glad to do what public sentiment demands.
The discussion of Mr.. Choate's paper
brought out considerable opposition to the in
heritance tax, particularly because it threaten
ed to defeat any good roads Legislation by in
volving in its consideration.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
The report of the committee on resolutions
followed, and it resulted in a warm debate
in which only one recommendation of the
committee was adopted. That was the pro-
position to increase the gross earnings tax
on railroads to per cent, from the present
taxes of and per cent. The resolutions as
adopted are as follows:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this con-
Vention that the question of the improve
ment of country roads is one of the most
important state questions now awaiting So
luton, and deserves the careful and serious
consideration of all, and especially those Of
fcers who have to do with the construction
OF roads and with the passage Of laws to bet
ter roads.
That we recommend that all country roads
be divided into three classes, according to
their Importance That the first class, to
be known as state roads, be under the gem
a
as to determine their character, location,
etc The second class to be under the ex-
elusive control of the county boards, who
snail also have the Immediate supervision
OF building and repairing state roads. That
the third class be under the supervision of
local boards, such as township or small dis
trict boards.
That section 5, article 9, of our state con-
stltutlon, should be amended so that a state
1uhd be established for the improvement of
our public wagon roads, which fund shall
pc distributed to the several counties of
the state in proportion to the amount they
snail expend upon state roads, and which
snail be built as designated by the state au-
thorities and accepted by them
1T ddaf II II necessary to increase such state
ROAD iund, that general tax upon all the
taxable property OF the state be levied and
applied to such fund.
mat we approve of q law taxing gifts in
contemplation of death and inheritances: and
resolved, that the officers of this organization
are requested to advocate the passage of an
act TO mat effect by the next legislative as
propriety and the business of devoting the
proceeds OF such tax to the construction
and maintenance of good roads.
mat 1t is the sense of this convention that
the voters of the state should vote ''aye'' on
the proposition to tax all railroad lands
mat the so-called Anoka road law is here
py commended to the people of the north
west part OF the state, and that we favor its
amendment where necessary
That this state should cooperate with the
general government in providing ways and
means for Investigations as to Qualities and
location of materials useful for road BUILDING
ana the best methods for the building and
superlntenolng OF wagon roads, and that to
that end state highway commission shouId
be established with authority to employ a ner-
son TO spend all his time in such investiea
ton.
That we heartily commend the pronosad Loo
lslatlon before congress looking to the appro.
prlauon OF funds to be used in the various
50 80 0uitui d. coleeeS 1or instruction in mat
ters pertaining to highway construction and
maintenance. 0
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
The convention then resolved itself into
permanent body, to be known as the Good
Roads Association of Minnesota. The chair
man, Judge II. R. Wells, of Preston: p V
collins, OF Minneapolis, secretary; Willet M
Hays, of the state agricultural college.
Choate, of Minneapolis; Thomas Montgomery
A L. Sunderland, George Leford were an
thorized to appoint one member from each of
'AN % Gil SOhSi eSSlOIidl UlSCrlcCS to form. with
the gentlemen named, the executive commit
tee. The purpose of the association is to Sc
cure legislation in line with the resolutions
adopted, call future meetings and push the
good roads cause whenever and wherever nos
sible f
Discussing the convention and its actions
Immediately after adjournment, A. B. Choate
Its father and leading spirit, said: at was
by all odds the best good roads meeting ever
held in the state, notwithstanding that the
attendance was smaller than expected
one thing was particularly noticeable in
this connection: that was, the unanimity of
sentiment in favor of a change of system in
ROAD building. The papers and discussions
brought out more clearly than at any previous
convention the excessive cost to the state of
bad roads, and it proposed and Endorsed more
practical methods of improving them. and
mus showing marked progress in public
sentiment, especially gratifying in view of
the TACT that the convention was composed of
bona Tide farmers from. some of the least de-
Veloped parts of the state, as well as the
more thickly settled portions"
HERE IS NEED OF GOOD ROADS
street Car Lines Badly Bothered by