The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-07-25
SLIGHTLY MISIEADING.

The state Of Minnesota will have
azfund of approximately 1927, 900. 600
with which to build good roads if
the proposed one mill road tax
amendment to the present law is
adopted by the people at the next
election, according to Senator J. T.
Elwell, of Minneapo]is.-St. Cloud
Times. ~ .-.+., ~s
The above is misleading, creates a
wrong impression and works injury
to the cause of road-improvement.
1t works injury because it leads
people to believe that with such an
immense fund at the disposal of the
state there is no necessity for any
great effort on the part of munich
palities to provide funds for the con-
struction and improvement of roads
and bridges. AS matter of fact the
major share of the cost of construct
ing and improving roads must al
ways be borne by the municipalities.
The state can and should direct and
assist, and the more assistance the
state can give the better, but in the
last analysis roads and bridges must
be built and maintained largely by
local taxation. We take it that
Senator E]well means that if the
one mill tax amendment is adopted
and placed upon our statute books it
would be possible to issue bonds.
under the provisions Of chapter 254,
general laws of 1911, to the amount
of S27, 900, O00-one- half to be paid bv
the state and one-half by the NUM-
cipalities-to be used for road and
bridge purposes. But in the i'm
probable event that such an amount
of bonds should be issued by the
municipalities of the state immedi-
ately after the one mill tax went
into effect, it would mean that the
state road and bridge fund would be
mortgaged for ten years in advance.
In other words it would mean that
if bonds to the amount of S27,OOO,OOO
were issued it would require the en-
tire amount of the states road and
bridge fund for the next ten years to
pay the state share of the principal
-sl3, 100000.
The total real estate and personal
property valuation of the state for
the year 1912. was 1,2l2, 567, 594, a
one mill tax on that amount would
p 70 duce s1,2l2,567 For tn
fiscal year ending July 81, 1911,
the state road and bridge fund
was augmented by receipts
from the following sources in addi-
tion to the direct tax of 10th of
one mill: five per cent on sales of
United States lands, So, 1923. Is: in
come from permanent internal i'm
proyement land fund, S13. 469. 81;
licenses dairy and food department.,
81, 661.00 These three items aggre-
gate 1923, 154.07. Thus if the one mill
road tax had been in operation for
the fiscal year ending July 81, 1912,
the total amount available IN the
state road and bridge fund for that
year would have been 81, 235, 72l, that
is presuming all taxes had been paid.
That amount distributed equally
among the So counties of the state
would give each county approximate
]y Sl4, 1858.
The adoption of the one mill tax
amendment will be productive of
great good to the cause of good
roads; but the one mill tax alone
will not give the state system of
good roads: the municipalities must
cooperate with the state; and the
heartier the cooperation the greater
will be the success of the movement
for better public highways.
PREACH GOOD ROADS,.
| A word to candidates for office