The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-05-17

enough contract may be let at one
time so that railroad or other
large contractor would be interest
ed to take such contract and with
the modern machinery such as trac-
ton engines, and wide tire wagons
would be able to do this work with
saving of at least so per cent to
the county in which the road was
built, and at the same time would
be able to roll down a road with
this heavy machinery while building,
so that when it was completed this
new road would be as firm and as
ready to use as an old road.
I'm addition to this saving so per
cent from this method of doing work
the county is saved one-haf of it's
share of the payments to obtain
state aid, as the benefited property
pays that share under this bill and
by anticipating the total funds for
ten years, as We do under this law,
we have good road now with the
privilege of paying for them in a
way which we will not feel With
this bill we are enabled at the pres
ent time and with no increase of
state taxes to build $6,7O0,0OO.OO
worth OF good roads and not in
crease the present rate of taxes
either by the state or the counties
OF the state and we actually save to
the counties so per II cent of the
| money which it is necessary for
them to put in to get state aid. 1t
will thus be seen that much addi-
tional good road can be built and
not materially impair the present
road and bridge fund in the several
counties where this road law is
used.
Highways in Northern Minnesota.
"In Northern Minnesota system
of highways has already been laid
out comprising some 1,S47 miles at
cost OF perhaps little over 81, 900
per mile. This would open I'D
vast new territory, connect one set
tlement with another and town with
town, and also would be a great fire
protection to vast timber districts
there, as 1T is easier to patrol hun
| dreds of miles with a good road
and modern conveyanecs, than it is
short distances with the old method
! OF going through the woods on trails.
We believe that it will save for the
state of Minnesota hundreds of
thousand of dollars worth of valu-
able timber, will double the value
iof Northern Minnesota and wher-
ever these roads are used in con-
nection with our 10000 beautiful
lakes, will help to make this a sum-
mer resort"
Taking Anoka county as a sam
pie, the condition under the old law
lis as follows: County road and
bridge fund, for 1911, $8,452.61; re-
ceived from state road and bridge
fund for 1912, $4,000; required from
county fund to obtain this state
grant, $4,000; total state and county
road fund available for 1912, $12,-
1921; total road mileage possible
at $1,000 a mile for 1912, twelve;
total cost to county for this mileage,
$S,452.21.
ElWell Law Advantages.
Under the Elwell law, the county
fund being still $S,452.21, and the
amount from the state fund $4,000,
the sum from the county fund to OBJ
tain the state grant will be $4,000
and required from the benefited
lands will be $4,000. Thus the total
amount obtained will be 5000, with
out any change of tax rate In addi-
ton the anticipation for ten years
under the Elwell law, to be obtain
ed by sale of bonds, which may be
over and above the legal bond limit,
! the total sum available will be $780,
600. If the one-mill tax passes, this
sum may. be. increased to ten times
the amount available for one year
from county fund on the increased
basis plus the state fund to match
it. Under the $4,000 available the