The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-28
For Road Improvement.

Renewed attention has been directed
to the Improvement of country high
ways in this state by the fact that a
constitutional amendment to aid in
road construction is to come before the
people at the election this fall. The
need of good roads and their value to
farmers and the owners of farm prop
erty have been discussed sufficiently
What the public is interested in now is
the practical question of achieving re-
suits. Although the actual addition to
the prices Of farm property where roads
have been improved more than offsets
their cost, 1t cannot be expected that
the whole work should be done at the
expense Of the agricultural interest
These men have not the necessary CAP
ital, and neither are they organized to
carry on road Improvement along sci
entific lines
1t has been accepted that the state
must assist, and the amendment in
question provides a method. If the
people approve this change in the con-
stitution, levy of 1-20 of a mill tax
will be authorized for the creation of
road and bridge fund, into which the
revenue from internal Improvement
lands may also be paid. OF the total
levy, not over per cent and not less
than y of per cent is to be expended
in any one county in the same year.
This money is to be appropriated from
the treasury only to the extent Of
one-third of the entire cost of
the improvements made. When the
county furnishes the other two
thirds the work may go forward I'M
der the supervision of a state highway
commission, which is created by the
same act and consists of three mem
bers who serve without compensation
other than their personal expenses.
The financial part of this scheme ap-
pears to be excellent. State aid
ought to be given to limited and mod
crate extent and conditioned on local
activity. No quarrel will be found with
the tax levy provided for or the method
of utilizing it. But the regulations
for the appointment of a commission
seem to us to be exceedingly faulty
No modern improved road can be con-
structed except under the supervision
of a skilled engineer. To put money
into improvements, so-called, which
stop short of making a highway with a
thoroughly built foundation and a per-
feet surface, is throwing money awav
1t is like the futile attempts now made
under county authorities to mend"
the roads, resulting in making them.
as a rule, ten times worse than thew
We're before.
One head for this business is neces-
sary, and one is enough. There is moth
ing in the act requiring the members
of this proposed commission, or any
one of them, to be familiar with en-
gineering work. The proposition that
one or more persons competent to di-
rect highway construction should give
their time and labor to this important
department of state activity with
out compensation is worse than ridicu-
lous. No state will ever secure a sys-
tenn of good roads without EMPLOYING
an engineering superintendent and
paying him what his services are
worth. It is just as ridiculous to talk
of building modern roads under a DO
litical commission as it would be for a..
railroad company to plan a new line
and put its construction under the
charge of the county committee of the
Populist party.
1t is very unfortunate that this error
should have been made in a proposed
constitutional amendment which can
not be corrected by legislative act, but
must wait two years for another sub
mission to the people. So great, how