The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-06-27
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: The EiWell Road Law.
A Grand instrument fer the
Development of Rural Min
nesota.
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The "Elwell Law" much as it has
been talked about in Minnesota, has
never been printed in complete and
connected form. portion of it ap-
pears in the sheets of General Laws
of 1911" but, owing to faulty index,
it is not easily identified; and for the
remainder Of it one must look to the
fifty sections of chapter $50 of the
General Laws of 1905-relating to the
drainage of swamp lands-which with
the necessary verbal changes, are
made a part of the new law. 1t would
be well if provision could be made for
printing it entire, with all the directed
changes actually made, so that it may
be more readily understood. For, as
whole, it bids fair to prove one of the
most beneficient and farsighted pieces
of legislation ever enacted in Mime
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The three special features of the
law, which distinguish it above prior
enactments. are these: KS .::r'~'
/. 1t makes the money of the state
more largely available in the work of
| building state rural highways" The
state is obligated to pay half the cos.
of every such highway, outside of
cities and villages-duly petitioned for
by landowners, township supervisors,
city or village councils, corporations
affected, or by the state board of con-
trol-whenever the plans for the same
shall be approved by the county board,
or boards, and the state highway COM
mission. Not only does the state thus
literally contribute; but, in addition,
the state allows itself to be assessed,
with other landowners, for benefits to
any state lands which share in the ad
vantages accruing from the construc-
ton of the highway
2. The county or counties through
which any state rural highway may
pass will pay one-quarter of the cost;
and the remaining quarter is to be as
sessed against the property benefited.
But the benefits are taxed, not only
against the property lying immediate
ly upon or adjacent to the proposed
highway, but upon any contiguous
areas, whether in country or village.
which will gain from its construction.
The burden is thus so widely dis
tributed as to practically overcome
any objection on account Of it's weight
8. To make the burden still easier.
and thus further stimulate the con.
struction of good roads, the assess
ments levied for the payment of the
cost thereof are distributed over a
period of ten years; all obligations in.
Cured in the work of construction
being meanwhile Covered. where neces-
sary, by an issue ~ snonds. --".-
The interests of the state and the
taxpayer are safegiarded by numer-
Gus provisions regarding the giving Of
bonds by engineers and contractors,
inspection and accounting. A little
study Of the new situation created by
this law viii show that, If the 'men
of light and leading" in our rural dis
tricts will so direct public sentiment
as to induce general movement for
road building under it's provisions, a
large increment Of value will come as
a result, to the farms of Minnesota
And not only this, but with better
roads will Gene more ''neighboring,"
more cooperation and a Larger social !
life. R. Barns, Extension Diyi.
sion. Minnesota College of Agricul- |