The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-02-06
FOR STATE AID.
MIR. Laybourn Asks For $4,000 For
Roads and Bridges in Cook County.

hOadS and Bridges IN Cook County.
A dispatch from St. Paul, under date
OF the 26th ult., says: "Mr. Laybourn
has bill for roads and bridges in Cook
county and sent it to the Speakers desk
this morning, but it had not been reached
when the house took up it's special order.
1t will be introduced later. Cook coun-
ty wants roads and bridges and Mr.. La
bourn's bill asks an appropriation of
$4,000 for that purpose. This measure
was formally asked for by Cook county,
through Mr.. Labourn, and it is the first
Legislation or appropriation ever asked
for by that county. The general pur-
pose OF the bill is the development and
settlement of Northeastern Minnesota,
especially Cook county, which although
rich with minerals, has only Indian trails
and few short roads and is dependent
mainly upon lake Superior, and the
county developes slowly as result"
The above measure was asked for
through our venerable ex-county attor-
ney, Perry D. Martin, who is now in st.
Paul, looking after the interests OF Cook
county before the legislature. IF the
members of the legislature could be made
to understand the situation in Cook
county we believe they would not hest
tate in granting the appropriation asked.
This county comprises $1,000 square
oI 4
Ramsey, Hennep1n, Dakota and Scott
and Leave IL square miles to spare. It is
an Immense principally, with
wealth Of timber, mineral and agricul-
tural resources which are practically un-
known and untouched, for want of roads
for communication with the outside
world. With this vast wealth of resour-
ces about us, here we are, isolated, as it
were. with no means of communication
with the outside world in the winter
time save by dog train over rough trail
to Two Harbors, a distance of e1ghty-six
miles from Grand Marais. During the
past two years decided effort has been
made by our county authorities to secure
a road along the shore of Lake Superior,
with the hope that at some future day
we may secure stage route from Two
Harbors, but with the present condition
OF affairs it will take years before we
realize the end for which we all so fondly
hope. With an appropriation of $4,000
from fha a q l>o
complete stage route to Two Harbors
and also do something in the way If
roads into the interior.
AS an investment the state could use
$4,000 to no better advantage, for with
the improved means Of communication
resulting from the expenditure of that
amount of money this county would be
settled up, and the lands now held by the
government would, within few years
be paying taxes, to say nothing of the
effect 1t would have in fastening the de-
velopment of the great mineral wealth
OF the county. Even under the present
unfavorable conditions Cook county is
increasing IN population and the rich
agricultural lands are being settled up
by hardy, industrious class of people,
which goes to show that, under more
favorable circumstances, this county
! would soon have population of several
thousand wealth producing citizens.
BY their hearty support of this bill the
members of the legislature from this dis
trict will secure the undying gratitude
OF the citizens of Cook county. =: