The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-02-26
Money to Be Raised by One Mill Tax
to Be Apportioned on Basis of
Assessed Valuations.
FARMERS THE ONES TO PROFIT
Will No Longer Work Out Taxes and
Construction Work Done By Coun-
ty Will Be Permanent.
(By w. H. Campbeu.)

hepOfCS ana Suggestions which
Rep. R. C. Dunn has received from
advocates of better roads in Bemidji
and Beltrami county have been very
helpful in framing the bill which he
has introduced in the legislature.
The measure has the support of Gov
ernor Eberhart and a majority of the
legislators. 1t also has the support
OF most fthe civic and commercial
clubs throughout the state, as we'll
as the automobile associations, and
it is not believed that there will be
any strong objection to the passage
of this measure.
1t places all Of the state highway
work in Minnesota under centralized
responsibility. It wipes out all the
road laws, calls for a standard speci-
hcatlon, sets aside percentage for
maintenance, and on the whole, is
designed to accomplish the construc-
ton of roads which will not only
meet the present requirements of
travel, but those of the future as we'll.
Bemidji people who are to go to St.
Paul in the interests of the bill will
make every effort to obtain the
building OF a sixteen-foot highway,
running east and west through Bel
trami county.
Bemidji people are very much in
terested and are not letting any OPP
portunity slip by in an attempt TO
provide standard highways for this
section. 1t is fully realized that if
there were more good roads entering
Bemidji the bank account of every
merchant would be boosted because
people living in the country could get
to town whenever they so desired
with their farm produce and return
the same day with their city mer-
chandise. 1t is also known that
good roads would bring thousands OF
tourists into the city and that the
money which these people spend
would help contribute towards the
general business prosperity of the
city.
Many Excellent Suggestions.
There are many excellent SUCCESS
lions in Representative Dunn's meas
ure. One of these is the abolishing
Of the old system of allowing farm
ers to work out their road tax.
Hereafter this tax must be paid in
cash. This will mean the building
of better roads by competent road
builders. 1t has been proved that in
many instances the work of the far
mers has been of a makeshift order
and that many counties were losing
hundreds of dollars every year in
patch work and inferior construc-
ton.
If the legislature decides to levy
the full one mill tax which the peo-
pie authorized at the last election
when they voted favorably on con
stitutional amendment, the state
will have fund much larger than
ever before: The one mill tax would
produce considerably more than ST.
100000. The levy this year is but
one-fourth of a mill.
Divides State Into Four Glasses.
The bill divides the state into four
classes. These divisions are based
on assessed valuations by counties.
The counties with the lowest valua
tions are given the benefit of the
larger percentage.
Counties of the lowest assessed
valuation under terms of the bill, are
allowed eighty per cent state aid.
Counties of higher assessed valua-
ton come in for a smaller percen
tage of state aid. The minimum is
fifty per cent. '&r
An Important Feature.
One important feature of the new
bill is the provision for the employ
ment of an engineer in each county.
The present appropriation for that
purpose is $150,00O, and its limita-
lions hecessitate supervisor taking
in several counties. The new bill
would increase this to 100000