The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-03-24
A GOOD ROADS TALK
Counties of st. Louis, Hennepin and
Ramsey Would Pay More Than
Half Of a one-MliTax.
Betterlng of Highways the All Impor-
tant Question-All Other Issues
of Secondary Importance.

roads question was delivered by r.
c. Dunn last Friday evening at the
conservation congress in the st. Paul
auditorium:
Many important questions have
been ably and eloquently discussed
by well-informed men and women at
this conservation congress, and
doubtless much good will result
therefrom. The conservation of the
states natural. resources, what are
left of them, is something that should
interest every thinking man and
woman within the confines of our
state. The benefits that would accrue
from intensified farming are obvious.
Some one, Swift, / believe, has said,
that whoever could make two ears of
corn, or two blades of grass, to grow
upon spot of ground where only one
grew before, would deserve better of
mankind, and do more essential
service to his country than the whole
race of politicians put together.
While questions of great moment
have been learnedly expounded here
by men who have made life study of
the particular subjects with which they
have dealt, according to my way Of
thinking, there has not been, and
there will not be, a matter of more
Importance to the people of this state
as whole brought before this con-
gress than that of improving our
public highways. There is no other
problem that so vitality, so directly
concerns so many people; there is
no other agency that would contribute
more toward the upbuilding of our
state and the happiness and prosperi-
ty of its. citizens than good public
highways.
The topic assigned e-"Highway
Legislation and Administrations is
big one, too big, probably, for me
to handle properly. But I will give
you few suggestions and you can
take them for what they are worth. It
is at the request of the president and
secretary of the Minnesota Road
Makers association I appear before
you, and if you are bored you will
know where to place the response
bility. But I will be brief.
Every loyal Minnesotan is proud of
our magnificent permanent school
fund-a fund that will eventually
reach Sl00,0OO,O0 That fund, under
our constitution, must forever remain
inviolate and undiminished, only the
income from the same can be used to
promote the cause of education.
What a monument that perma nent
school fund is to the foresight and
sagacity of the men who laid the
foundations of this commonwealth.
What pity that the 100000 acres of
land granted to the state by congress
for internal improvements was not
devoted to the purpose for which the
grant was intended-S2,5 33, 900 of the
proceeds of the sales of these lands
was used in liquidating the railroad
adjustment bonds. However, there is
about $780,, in the permanent in
ternal Improvement land fund at the
present time, and the income from the
same for the fiscal year ending July
81, 1909, amounted to 1898. This
fund may in the course of time
amount to 100000.
The prime requisites to secure good
roads is the necessary means to con-
struct and improve them; another
essential, equally important, is the
honest and Intelligent expenditure of
the means provided. I am one of
those who believe the state should
provide large share of the means
and, through it's highway commission,
exercise a watchful supervision over
the expenditure of the same. Means
can be provided in only one way-by
taxation. Now, do not get frightened
when [ mention taxation. It is not
the state taxes that is eating up your
property. The average rate of taxa
ton throughout the state, by counties,
this year is q. 70 mills; the total state
rate is 2.80 mills, or about one-tenth
OF the whole. In my home village OF
Princeton the rate of taxation is 43.lO
mills, nearly half of which is for
school purposes. We have good
schools and are proud of them, and
we want good roads and are perfectly
willing to have another mill added to
our tax rate to assist in getting them.
The income derived from invest
ments in the internal Improvement
land fund, and 5 per cent from the
proceeds of the sale of United States
lands goes into the state road and
bridge fund. But the amount derived
from these sources is small. The two
items, together with one-twentieth OF
one mill state road tax, aggregated
S64, 72l.7l for the fiscal year ending