Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-01-19

st. Paul. - That the "good roads,
movement is but just started in Min
nesota seems demonstrated by statis-
tics forthcoming in the report Of the
state highway commission, now in
course of preparation. But on the
other hand, it will also show that the
people throughout the state are be-
coming more alive every day to the
benefits to be derived from better
roads, and with one and all awake to
this, the battle is half won.
The highway commission estimates
that there are 1929 miles of wagon
roads at present in Minnesota. OF this
mileage, there is but $50 of macadam
the best of all country roads
10000 miles of gravel roads; and the
great balance 69,175 miles but Or
binary earth roads-mere trails"
Up to date, there are only IL coun-
ties which have as yet failed to desig-
nate Estate roads, under the special
law which is aimed to thereby give
them special road building aid from
the state. These IL counties are Beck
er, Cottonwood, Dodge, LeSueur, Now
er, Otter Tail, Pope, Rock, Wilkin, Vel
low Medicine and Jackson. And it is
believed that before long, most of
these dozen slow ones will "get into
line"
State funds in the hands of the
highway commission for distribution
among the respective counties for road
betterments, are yearly increasing.
These funds are derived from spe-
cial one-twentieth Of mill general
tax, five per cent from government
land sales, and the interest each year
from the internal improvement land
fund. No county is allowed more than
three per cent of the total amount, no
matter how progressive it may be in
road building; and no county can be
allotted less than one-haH of one per
cent, no matter how slow its officials
may be in actions toward lettering
travel conditions.
The maximum amount allowed coun-
ties in 1907 under highway commits.
sion allotment was $1,600-the three
counties drawing this amount being
Hennepin, Ramsey and st. Louis. In
1908, the maximum amount was $1,000,
drawn by the same three counties.
But during the year 1909, the maxi
mum amount was $1,500 and each of
sixteen counties received this sum.
In 1907 the amount of state money
available through the highway com
mission allotment, was $4,000. OF
this, only $4,000 was drawn out by
the various counties for the reason
that it was not then available until
after August I. But in 1908, when the
amount available for the year was
$4,000, the counties drew out $751;.
000-some overlapping from the year
before. During 1909, $4,000 was
available and although the reports
from the various counties are just
beginning to-: come in it looks as
though nearly all of this money has
been spent for road work the past
working season. It is estimated that
in 1910, $4,000 will be distributed
by the state.
State Highway Engineer George w
Cooley, Of Minneapolis, looks for a
most liberal growth of the good roads
movement with the breaking Of
spring. This will be given impetus
when the State Roadmakers' Associa
ton meets at the Auditorium in ST
Paul, March 16, II, IS, 19,-at the
same time as the much-talked-of con
servation congress projected by Gov
Eberhart. At that time, the state
highway commission will have an elab
crate exhibition, consisting of NINA
ture model roads, demonstrating their
construction in detail There will
also be lecture delivered either by
Mr.. Cooley or by M. o. Eldridge, as
sistant director of the public roads
Office at Washington, D. G. This lee
ture will be illustrated by stereopti
con views.
More Good Crop Statistics.
George Welch, Minnesota commits
sioner Of immigration, and represent
ing in his work the state immigration
board, has just completed an interest
ing tabulation comparing the Mime
sofa crops with those of surrounding
states, both as to amount produced
and the average yield per acre. The
table is surprising in the things II
sets forth.
For instance, Iowa, which has 9
reputation as being such wonder
full corn producing state, does show
an immense crop CESS, 100000 bush
els), but it averaged but Bis bushels
to the acre, compared with 34.8 bush
els of Minnesota corn to the acre
Minnesota's flax crop (4,500,000 bush
els) averaged 10 bushels to the acre
compared with an average of but 6
fraction over 9 bushels in Iowa, NORTH
and South Dakota. And as to pota
toes, there are a number of states
which produced more in the aggregate
Of bushels than did Minnesota Us,
100000 bushels), but none Of then
can touch Minnesota with her wonder
full 1909 record of an average of III
bushels to the acre. Minnesota also
shows up with an apple crop during
1909 of IS per cent of 100 per cent
crop-the best showing of any middle
| or northwest state so far as this fr,,i1