The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-08-11
HOW 70 GET INTO LINE.

movement IS assuming Is not general
~ appreciated. The campaign is no
mere local or state affair. It is
nationwide and growing, as is evil
denced by the seventeen good roads
conventions arranged for this summer
in as many parts of the country.
New England and California, Wash
ington and Florida are interested,
and progressive citizens in all the
states between them are presenting to
the people the arguments that are
winning thousands to the cause of i'm
proved highways.
New York takes first place among
the advocates of good roads. It not
only has made provision for $50, 0OO,-
600 to be expended on permanent
highways, but it has adopted the
patrol system of maintenance that has
proved SO satisfactory in France.
Maryland has under construction
roads that will cost the state $500, :
600. Each of the New England states,
Georgia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Kansas, Colorado and
many other states have undertaken to
carry out extensive plans for road
improvement. Minnesota should get
into line.-Pioneer Press.
The U n 10 n has consistently main
tanned that the lettering of our public
highways should be made the para
mount issue in this state, and that all
other questions are of secondary i'm
portance. The desirability of good
roads is conceded by every intelligent
man and woman, hence it is not de-
batable question, for no one pos
sessed of modicum of common sense
would take the negative side of the
proposition. Minnesota should get
into line, and how? First-by send
ing men to the legislature who are
heartily in sympathy with the good
roads movement. Secondly the
legislature enacting proper legislation
on, the subject. hird-intellige
state supervision and liberal state aid
in the construction and Improvement
of roads and bridges.
The first duty that devolves upon
the people of the state is to adopt the
proposed amendment to section l6
article 9 of the constitution, which
provides that the state may defray
one-half the cost of constructing or
improving any road or bridge. AS it
is the state can appropriate only one
third. In other words if the state
appropriates $1,000 for the improve
ment of a road, the county must con-
tribute $4,000. Many of the smaller
counties-the counties that stand in
greatest need of state aid-cannot
comply with the present requirement.
The amendment (chap. sos general
laws of 1909) is to be voted upon at
the ensuing election, and it should be
adopted.
The incoming legislature should
levy one-quarter of one mill road tax
that is permissible under our pres
ent constitution-and the revenue
derived from such tax should be ex-
pended under the supervision of the
state highway commission. The
legislature should also enact and SUBJ
NIT to the voters at the next general
election an amendment to the consti-
tuition providing for general one
mill road tax. And above all things
the next legislature should provide
ample funds for the state highway
commission to employ a sufficient
number of competent men-practical
road-builders-to supervise the con-
struction and improvement of roads
and bridges, and to instruct and
direct the local town and county
authorities in the work of road
making.
Briefly, we have outlined in gen.
eral way a few of the steps that, in
our judgment, are absolutely neces.
sary to advance the cause of good
roads in this state.