The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-04-18
EXPLANATION OF
DUNN ROAD BILL
CAPT TAI CORRESPONDENT
TOUCHES ON ALL THE I'M.
PORTANT PHASES.
NEW CHANGES ARE NUMEROUS
New Legislation Amends, Codi-
fies and Reenacts all the Road
Measures now in Exist
ence in Minnesota.

ence in Minnesota.
| The Dunn good roads law codifies,
amends and reenacts all the road laws
OF the state. The changes made are
numerous and important. 1t is pro-
posed here to touch briefly upon their
more important features.
-he First Division.
The first division of the law relates
to the powers and duties of counties,
towns and municipalities 1t provides
that all the state roads shall be con-
structed, improved and maintained by
the counties under rules and regula-
lions made by the state highway COM
mission.
All county roads are to be estab-
lished, constructed and maintained by
the county boards, which may appro-
pirate from the county road and bridge
fund such sums as it deems advisable
to spend on town roads.
. AS to Town Roads.
Town roads are to be established,
constructed and maintained from the
town road and bridge fund, with such
aid as the county may extend. The
town board may spend money on any
road within it's limits that has been
designated as a state road.
Cities of the fourth class and vii
lagos are authorized to assist in the
improvement and maintenance of
roads beyond their corporate limits
in their own or in all adjacent county.
The policy of the bill is that all
road and bridge work involving the eX-
penditure of any considerable sum of
money shall be done by contract.
When such sum is over $500, this is
compulsory. Before contract for q
bridge or a road can be let plans
and specifications must be filed with
the county auditor in the case of a
county, or with the town, village or
city clerk as the case may require,
three weeks prior to the time when
the bids are to be opened. In the
case of such contracts bids must be
advertised for in the local paper for
three weeks. ... ........
The Second Division.
The second division of the law re-
Iates to the apportionment and the or
ganization of the highway commission.
The law in this respect is not mater
tally changed. The commission is to
investigate and determine the location
of road material in the state, investi-
gate laws, hold meetings, report to the
governor, and so on. The highway
commission may be consulted at any
time, and it is made it's duty to give
advice, assistance and supervision as
may be required, and to render such
engineering services as may be neces-
sary. ...... ,.-.
The state road and bridge fund is
to consist of the proceeds of the one
mill tax authorized by the adoption
of the constitutional amendment at the
last election. 1t is assumed that this
will amount to between $1,400,000 and
$1,500,OO0 The expenses of the COM
mission, $150,000 annually, do not
come out of this fund, but are a
charge upon the general resources OF
the state. The entire road and bridge
fund is to be spent on roads and
bridges.
Of this fund not less than one per
cent nor more than three per cent
can be apportioned to any county, as
there are sc counties in the state.
This will leave IA per cent of the fund
to be apportioned among the larger
counties, or to be expended in coun-
ties where the need of help is greatest.
Assuming the fund to be next year
$780, 900, the least any county would
receive would be $4,000, the most,
$4,000. Of the fund $4,000 would
remain to be expended at the dis
erection of the highway commission.
Much Criticism Here.
This division is criticised more than
anything else in the bill. 1t is de-
Tended on the ground that all coun-
ties share in the state aid literally,
and on the further ground that it
would be unwise to leave, say half
the fund or more to be expended at
the discretion of the highway commits
sion. 1t would leave the door wide
open for administrative extravaganza.
1t would put in the hands of COVER
nor who might want to use the fund
to serve political ends a lever which
might be used to the public detriment
in case he brought influence to bear
on the commission to apportion the
money to serve political ends. AS it
is now the counties will have the
handling of the bulk Of the road money
themselves, and the commission will
have to husband the resources at its
command to meet the demands made
upon it.
Assuming then that the allotment
of state has been made as above in
dicated, the law proceeds to direct
how the money shall be spent. One
fifth, or 20 per cent, of the allotment
to each county is to be used for the
maintenance of state roads and
BRIGGS therein. Not more than one
quarter, or 2s per cent, of the re
mai ,.der MAJ be expended on county
reads. The -est is to be spent In
state road construction.
Must Raise Equal Anoune.
In the larger and more popuioIs
counties to secure any given sum as
|
Protecting Young Trees.
a