The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1909-12-16
door ROADS 4 GOOD: S UBJEcr.

GOOD ROADS A sGOODsSUByECT.
When 9 newspaper writer is at q
loss for something toswrite about, the
subject OF good roads always comes
in handy, and the number Of people
competent to write on the subject is
legion. Elk River Star News.
{ The Union has ever been a con-
sistent and persistent advocate of the
cause of good roads, and as a result
of its advocacy there has been con-
siderable improvement in the roads in
this vicinity-in Sherburne and Isanti
counties as we'll as in Mile Laos.
We hold that the good roads question
is the all important question in Min
nesota today. All other issues are
Of secondary Importance. We also
maintain that our existing road laws
are Ineffective and should be re-
modelled. Township and county
authorities should be required to ex-
| pend taxes raised for road purposes
in a systematic and intelligent
manner under the supervision of COM
| potent road-builders. AS it is, it is
no exaggeration to say that fifty per
cent of the money expended on the
public highways is wasted-of course,
there are localities where every dollar
is expended to good advantage.
1t requires money to construct good
roads. The efforts of the counties
and towns must be supplemented by
state aid, especially so in northern
Minnesota.
Under our state constitution as it is
| the only money available for the con-
struction and improvement of public
highways by the state is the income
derived from the internal Improvement
fund, five per cent of the proceeds
OF the sale of government lands, and
.one-fourth of a one mill general tax
the first two items are mere bagatelle
and the tax of one-fourth of one mill
is grossly inadequate, besides it is left
discretionary with the legislature to
levy it. ..#
The Union proposes that the next
legislature shall submit an amend
ment to the constitution providing for
general tax of one mill on the
assessable properly of the state, the
proceeds of such tax to be used in the
| construction and Improvement of
public highways, to be expended by
the counties of he state under the
supervision and direction of the state
highway commission.
The present valuation of the state
exceeds one billion dollars. and if
such an amendment we're adopted
before it could become operative it is
safe to assume that the assessable val
uation of the state would be increased
to ST, 200, 100000 A tax of one mill
on an assessable valuation of $780,
100000 would produce a revenue of
81, 100000, which would give each of
the IS counties of the state on an
average over S14,000-some counties
would receive more and some less but
the average would exceed $4,000.
That amount judiciously expended,
with a like amount expended by the
minor political subdivisions, would
give each county at least 20 miles of
good permanent highways each year.
That would mean 200 miles of good
highways in each county of the state
within decade.
The plan proposed is simple and
feasible. The tax would not be
onerous. The large centers of popu-
lation and the iron ranges, where
wealth is concentrated, would pay the
lion s share of the tax. By 1912, when
the amendment to the constitution, if
adopted, would become operative, the
steel corporation alone would pay
$3.50, 1000 annually, or one-fifth of the
entire amount. All the talk anent
conserv alton of the states resources,
costly waterways, ETC., is largely for
political effect. A system of good
public highways would contribute
| more To the 1nhnildinp IF the state