The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-05-27
WHAT WILL UPBUILD THE STATE.

WHAT WILL UPBUILD THE STATE.
For several weeks past the Mime
apolis Journal has been running a
series of signed articles in it's editor
ial columns by country editors. The
Journals object is to get the views
of the editors along the line of state
development. Some of the contribu-
tors wandered far from the text.
The most sensible, and by far the
most practical, of the series of arti-
Giles that have come under our obser-
walton was written by W. E. Verify,
editor of the Wadena Pioneer-J our
nal. from which we quote the fol-
lowing paragraphs: T.: 3ya.
1.-The greatest step forward in re-
cent years was the adoption two
years ago of the Dunn good roads
law. and it is only fair to add that
much good along the same line was
accomplished by the Elwell law in
the brief period of it's existence. 1t
is probably fair to say that since the
enactment Of the Dunn law, the state
has made greater strides in the con-
(struction of good. serviceable roads
than in all its previous history. If
it is continued on the statute books
for the next ten years Minnesota will
be able to boast that it has as good
roads as any state in the nation.
''1n this connection it is to be re-
gretted that there seems to be we'll
defined attempt on the part of the
bridge companies to have the law so
amended that the road fund shall be
spent, as in the past, through the
county commissioners. Such a
change would ruin the efficiency of
the law. -
+ "Roads should be built under the
supervision of central state COM
mission, and definite plan involv-
ing the entire state should be fol-
lowed. Such procedure will be i'm
possible, if the commissioners of the
various countries are allowed sway.
''Of even greater Importance
in the work of developing the
state would be the construction of
several thousand miles of additional
railway lines. New lines of rail
would do much to assist in the de-
velopment of southern Minnesota,
but in the north such construction
is imperative, if we would open up
to settlement the millions of acres of
fertile lands now beyond the reach of
the sturdy settlers.
IA thousand miles of new railway
each year for the next ten years
would be no more than sufficient.
and it is also conservative estimate
that the construction of that many
miles in the coming ten years would
result in gain of ;nearly->a million
population in the same time.
"The construction of. interurban
railway lines will also prove ,valu-
able factor in state development,
and every possible encouragement
should be given. them.
However, it is only too plain that
there must be a great change in
public sentiment in Minnesota be-
fore it will lie possible to realize any
great progress in the building of new
steam railways. The people must be
brought to a realization of the fact
that there is a great difference be-
tween the regulation of=railways and
| the batting of Railways s'ssss:z So
"a reasonable e. degree Of regula tion
| is most certainly desirable, but when
che laws make It impossible to re-
gard the construction of railways as
paying investment, it is foolish to
expect men with money to build
Them. ...1ss.ss..t ..s.7t, t..s...y:. ..
81 hold no brief for the railway
men, and l realize fully that they
themselves have been guilty in the
| past of practices which brought
upon them the just condemnation of
the people. Yet, there is. limit
beyond which the people should not
| go in the degree of regulation, if we
hope for any great development in
the future.
"Iet me suggest as solution Of
this problem, that the first step
along the line Of development Is, in
| a measure, political. We should ex-
ercise greater degree of care in the
selection of men to represent US in
public office. The election Of intelli-
gent men Of executive ability and Of