The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-03-13
DUNN LAW MAIN
TOPIC BEFORE THE
MEET In MEDO
srsn THURSDAY. Daily.


County Commissioner John II.
Holman OF Mankato addressed a
meeting in the Medo town hall, last
evening. He devoted his remarks
to an explanation OF the Dunn road
law. He spoke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: / will not
attempt this evening to speak to
you upon the necessity and advan-
tages OF good roads. concluded
from the invitation that your com
mittee extended 10 me, that you
are more interested in better
knowledge of the Dunn law, and ]
will confne my remarks principally
TO an explanation OF this law. We
have passed two very important
stages in the good roads movement
namely: The period OF education
and Of legislation, and with the
beginning OF this year we enter
upon the third period namely, that
OF the construction period. For a
number OF years we have been
preaching good roads not only by
word Of mouth and through the
press, but we have also demon
strated the advantages by building
short stretches OF permanent i'm
proved highways. The last session
OF the legislature revised and
Codified all our old road laws. and
passed new law known as the
Dunn law. Prior 10 the passing
OF this bill theer was devided
authority. and no personal RESPONSE
bility.
Work 10 More Uniform.
State reads were designated by
the county boards regardless OF the
possibility Of construction which
resulted in a large mileage OF dis
connected state roads, which were,
in many cases, the poorest roads
in the county, because on account Of
the limited amount of aid for state
roads, little or no work could be
done en- them, and township and
farmers did not work on these roads
simply because they had been des-
ignated state roads. The few roads
that we had permanently improved
were not properly kept up because
there was not provision made for
maintenance. Under the Dunn law
all these conditions have been
changed The old road tax system
has given way to the cash system.
Maintenance Of improved reads Is
another important feature OF the
Dunn law as also is the additional
tax levy, which was raised from
one quarter OF a mill to one mill.
Since we have with us this evening
such authority on road building as
my friend. Mr. McGregor Of Maple
ton, will confine my remarks to
n brief explanation of a few of the
main parts of the Dunn law.
Let us begin with the state high.
way commission. This commission
consists OF three members who are
appointed by the governor. one
each year, for three years. Not
more than two members shall be OF
the same political party. They are
none salaried, and meet once a
month at the office OF the highway
commission at ST. Paul.
Duties CT Highway Commission.
The commission appoints its
own secretary. He must be a
civil engineer and a practical road
builder, and who is known as the
state engineer. II may also appoint
deputy and assistant engineers, and
such other help as may be required
The present force Is organized in
two departments, the road depart
ment and bridge department, with a
deputy engineer at the head of each
department. At present there are
seyenty-f1ve engineers employed In
the road department, and eight In
the bridge department. and each
engineer must give a bond for $4,000
for the faithful performance of his
duties.
1T Is the duty Of the state
engineer, his deputies and assistants
TO give advice. assistance and su
pervision with regard to road and
bridge construction throughout the
state. The assistant engineer must
make all necessary surveys, esti
mates and specifications for work
TO be dcre on state roads; they
must also. upon the request Of an,
lard Of county commissioners ant
town boards with their respective
towns and counties, advise and con
suit with such county and towr
boards in the construction and i'm
rrovement Of county or town roads
they must also supervise the con
struction and Improvement or roads
and they must lend every possibl,
assistance to local authority Il
lettering the public highways.
Kinds Of Roads.
I've have three kinds OF roads
state. county and township. Stat,
roads are constructed, and must b
maintained by the county under tn,
laws and regulations G. the highwa,
commission. County reads are cor
srueted by the counties under tn
same rules OF the highway CON
mission. but must be maintained b
the towns. Town roads must b
constructed and maintained by th
townships.