The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-27
TRUNK Line
ROADS TO BOOST
STATE VALUES
Senator Alswede Proposes Work
ing Convicts on Auto
Courses
TAX ON VEHICLES
WOULD PAY THE COST
Would Open Resort Communl-
ties to Detroit and
Chicago
From . stan corrssp0ndsnt.

| LANSING. Mich, Jan. 27.-One oil
the items OF legislation practically Ger
tain OF being passed this year is a re
vision OF the statute in regard 70
licensing automobiles 10 increase the
states receipts theretrom and turn
| them into the state highway iuho
No less than four bills OF that SORT
| have been introduced.
! Another phase OF the good roads
question that Is receiving attention is
the possibility OF putting prisoners 10
work improving them. A bill 10 au-
thorize prison wardens 10 buy tools
and materials for road work ALREADY
has been reported on fayorably by the
house committee on state AFFAIRS and
several other suggestions along the
same line are being discussed. The
usual bills TO grant state aid In varl'
Gus localities also have been present
ed
The one really comprehensive pro-
gram, however, is put forward by sen
ator Alswede, twenty-fourth district,
who merges all these plans In a pro-
ject for the construction OF four trunk
line roads. aggregating 1000 miles In
length. which would be the basis OF a
state wide system OF improved high
ways.
I'VE have figured said Senator
Alsw EIDE, explaining his proposal, that
with the use OF convict labor and half
the proceeds from a reasonable license
tax on motor vehicles. these roads can
be built in two or at most three years.
when built they will open up the
trout fishing and summer resort com
munities OF northern Michigan TO the
automobilists of Detroit, Chicago and
other places. They will bring people
into the state and land values will go
up. The farmers will get the benefit
without bearing the COST
These trunk lines also will be the
greatest possible Incentive 70 further
bodybuilding for each community
must then construct a spur to get the
nearest one Of them. For $1,000, 900
roadway ~ feet wide ought to be
possible when made thus by the state.
II can be made OF screened gravel,
crushed rock or whatever material Is
most convenient In the different local
tiles
One OF the lines would run almost
OlIcCliy Ncbl lAOm DolIOll kuAOuku
Ann Arbor, Jackson. Marshall. Kali
amazoo, Paw Paw, to South Haven.
From this point, a west coast line
would run northward through Muske-
gon, Ludington, Manistee, Traverse
City and to Mackinaw City.
The other north and south line start
ing near Jackson, would follow the
principal meridian OF the state to Che
boygan and then swerve to meet the
west shore road at Mackinaw City.
The remaining line 10 planned TO run
the whole length OF the upper PENN
sula.
This plan has received the approval
OF several state officers and many 9TH
ers who have looked into II. A. 9. Car
ton. land commissioner, II especially
optimistic about II. When asked for
an opinion, he said: 1T IL the best
suggestion OF the sort have seen,
and I can thing OF no reason why II
should not go through. The automo-
bite men are anxious TO pay for II and
no other taxpayers can have any kick
coming
These roads will do more than
most anything know OF to make the
lands Of northern Michigan, which
now sell at 81 OF SO an acre, worth the
$40 to SIS that they ought to bring In
few years. I am commissioner oil
immigration, but | am frank 10 say
that they would do more to develop
the state than We could do In Ave
year6' hard work" RCOTT