The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-03-24


would, would inure TO the benefit 81
the people Of the entire state. The
income derived from state lands is
lequitably distributed throughout the
state without regard to where the
lands are located, and the larger the
revenue derived from that source tie
lower the direct taxes for the support
of our schools and public institutions.
The good roads propaganda that /
advocate is not sectional; it is OF
statewide application. I pity that
individual whose mental vision is so
obstructed that he cannot see beyond
the lines of his home county.
But do not understand me as advo-
eating that the state should expend
money in counties where the local
road authorities make no effort to i'm
prove the highways. I have no
patience with that class OF people who
are always willing and ready to
accept everything that is offered, but
will never do anything to help them
selves. In order to.have good roads
the county and town authorities must
cooperate with the state highway
commission.
There should be no requirement as
to the amount that must be expended
by a county in order to secure state
aid. Leaving out the five counties
with the largest valuations-St
Louis, Hennepin, Ramsey, Itasca and
Stearns-the average valuation of the
remaining 80 counties is about Sc, 1885,
600. It would be unfair to require
one of these counties to appropriate
two-thirds or even one-half the cost of
constructing or improving any road
or bridge where state aid is given.
In fact, such a requirement would pre-
vent many of the smaller counties
those that need state aid most from
getting but a very limited amount of
assistance. Then, again, it is impos-
sible for the smaller counties to ex-
pend all their county road and bridge
fund at any one particular point.
Other county roads and bridges may
demand immediate attention. The
proviso in question should be elimi-
mated.
In this connection word with
reference to towns and road taxes.
At present the state can levy one
quarter of mill for road purposes,
the county two mills and a town 10
mills at town meeting, and 10 mills
additional can be levied by the
supervisors, payable in labor at the
option of the taxpayer. In other
words the state and county can levy
only PA mills, while the town can
levy 20 mills. In addition to this the
town supervisors can assess poll
tax against each male inhabitant be-
tween the ages of 81 and so years of
not less than one nor more than four
days. road labor in each year. It is
my deliberate Judgment that small re-
turns, in the shape of road improve
ment, are derived from the tax levied
by supervisors. Far better results
would be obtained if the tax levied by
the supervisors was made payable in
money. In the early days of the state
when the country was sparsely settled
and money was a scarce commodity,
it was advisable to give the taxpayer
the privilege of paying his road taxes
in labor, but there is no excuse for
the existence Of that antiquated
system today.
There is nothing unfair about this
1-mill tax proposition. It would be
| a general tax imposed on all the
| property of the state. I have heard
the argument advanced that the large
cities would be obliged to pay a
great deal more than they would re-
ceive. The benefits the cities would
receive, directly and Indirectly, would
u1uOS WudU UJl0y
would be called upon to pay in taxes.
The entire state, especially the
northern half, is tributary to the
three large cities of Minneapolis, St.
Paul and Duluth. AS the state grows
in wealth and population these cities
will be the gamers. An improved
system of public highways means in
creased wealth and population in the
rural districts, which means more
business for the bankers, merchants,
manufacturers and laboring men of
the cities.
st. Louis county, with it's valuation
of s247, 100000, nearly quarter of
the valuation of the entire state, does
not object to state road and bridge
tax of l mill, nor do ] believe
Ramsey and Hennepin will object. I
have positive assurance that the St.
Louis county delegation in the next