The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-03-21
BOOMING MILE Laos COUNTY.

II
The Publisher Of the Union Gives . Meaty
Interview to the Pioneer Press-A Good
Word for the Lake Country-Op Opposed
to Drastic Legislation.
r. G. Dunn of Princeton, who is
probably as we'll posted on the affairs
OF the state as any other man, is TAX
ing deep interest in matters pending
before the legislature Last evening
he said:
In our county of Mile Laos we are
feeling good over the letting of the
contract for the building of the 500
extension from Brooten to Duluth.
The road will run diagonally through
the north half of Mile Laos county
and will skirt the southeast shore of
Mile Laos lake, the largest and most
picturesque body of water in the state.
1t will only be few years when 1t
will be the most popular summer re-
sort in the northwest. The road will
open up a fine farming country and
will bring hundreds of new settlers
into our county. We were in hopes
that the Great Northern would also
build north from Milaca to connect
with it's Hibbing branch this year, but
| am afraid the building of that ex-
tension has been postponed indefi-
nitely. We want more railroads in our
county, and for that reason our peo-
pie do not favor any drastic anti-rail-
road legislation. We do not want any
law placed upon the statute books that
would tend to prevent or retard rail-
road building in our section of the
state.
Good Roads.
''Our people are also vitality inter-
ested in good roads and the reclama-
ton Of the wet lands of the state. I
favor the imposition of a reasonable
tonnage tax on the output of the iron
mines, in addition to the direct valua-
tion tax, the entire proceeds to be ap-
piled to the building of good roads
and drainage under competent state
supervision. Personally am crank
on the good roads question. There
has been a great deal said and written
anent state development. Good roads
and drainage will solve that problem
and solve it right for all time to come.
A mile of good highway is worth more
to the state than ton of advertising
matter printed in three colors and in
five languages. There is no sense in
spending money to induce people to
locate in northern Minnesota under
present conditions. Settlers will not
remain in a country where they would
have to use boats or airships to get
on and off their land. am not inter-
ested in a tonnage tax if the same can
not be utilized for roads and drain
age. If such disposition cannot be
made of tonnage tax under our consti-
tuition, then it is the duty of the pres
ent Legislature to submit properocon-
stitutional amendment to be voted on
at the next general election. In the
meantime, if large smelling works
are erected at Duluth, so much the
better.
''The good roads amendment
adopted in 1898 should be wiped out.
A new amendment should be submitted
and it should be a wide open amend
ment. The Legislature should have
the authority to levy l mill tax if
necessary, and all restriction should
be removed with reference to expendi-
lures by the highway commission.
AS to Salaries.
II notice that there is clamor for
larger salaries and more offices.
There is no necessity for adding to the
horde of officeholders. Provision
should be made for a permanent tax
commission. The salaries of district
and supreme judges should be in
creased, and certainly the per diem of
members of the legislature should be
doubled. But the public will not take
kindly to d general increase of sala-
ries nor the creation of new Offices.
The appropriations for some of the
departments should be decreased in
stead of increased. ''-Pioneer Press,
March IA.