The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1916-03-30
BUBBLES PuNc1uRED.
Ftllaelss Of Opposition to The High.
- W1y Commission.

Fdlaelss Of Opposition to the High
y way Commission.
This county has seen much of the
practical results of the present road
laws of the state and is in a pretty
good position to, o,judge the merits OF
the present agitation in other parts
tor the abolition of the State High
way Commission. We are glad to
see that Cook county citizen offers
his views on the situation, and we
reprint below letter by County
Commissioner Engelson to the Du-
'uth Evening Herald answering
communication 10y one of the ants.
Mr.. Engelson's letter is as follows:
III did not read George w. Cooley's
etatement in the Herald concerning the
Highway Commission which stirred
your Bruno correspondent. G. A. Swan
tnlL with the "varions emotions" that
~ 90 copiousIy poured into the 'Open
Court" column of a recent edition OF
ybuur paper. Apparently Mr.. Swanson
4 amusing himself blowing bubbles
from a ''Home Rule League" pipe. Such
emotional contributions may interest
some readers as literary productions,
but to those who understand anything
ut tho real merits OF the controversy
they should seem ridiculous. II he
we're INC" or an 'O", the emotions OF
this "Home Ruler would De more un-
derstandable.
"rbis "Home Rule League" is an Or
Rsnization OF township officials now
waging an aggressive campaign for the
adjustment OF the State Highway Com
m,ssion; and as the reason (?) for it's
Hctivity nre pretty fully stated by Mr..
Swanson, let us see whether or not they
are, as have suggested, simply blowing
bubbles.
II live IN a county in which there is
not a mile of railway. and one whose
prosperity. therefore. more than any
other county in the state depends on
good roads. lam most emphatically for
good roads. I am for tue system OF road
building thai promises the maximum Of
service for the minimum OF cost; and I
tam.convfnoed that to abolish the High.
wsp@ Commission and hand it's powers
ov1r to the several town boards Of the
Ist1te would. hs long step backward
and little short OF crime.
"What do those "Home Rulers" want,
anyway? Town Boards still have entire
supervision over the building aud main
tehancs Of all town roads, and with this
Authority neither the Highway Commits.
SION nor the county board can interfere.
"Ths State Highway Commission is
given supervision lin Corporation with
tho county board) only over those state
FOL kdB for which state aid is given. All
0tler state roads and all county roads
ar1 constructed by the county; all state
roads being maintained by the county
md all county roads being maintained
BY the towns through which they pass.
Tie Commission has nothing to do with
tho designation of state roads, that be-
lne power vested solely in the county
boards and the prime purpose of making
1 county road state road is to secure
state aid.
"Towns are permitted maximum tax
LEVY of 81 mills for road purposes; the
maximum for counties beng 3 mills, and
the maximum for the State only one
mill. Is it any infringement on the
nght Of home rule for the State, through
IT'D Highway Commission, to supervise
tUe expenditure of this comparatively
small state allotment for road purposes?
II 50, then the same objection lies
aRainst the powers of the county boards
ID the matter, aud the controversy vir-
tuslly resolves itself into proposition
to turn over absolutely and entirely the
work OF road building to the town
boards.
''Towns are relieved of the duty Of
maintenance and up-keep of county
roads as soon as the same are designa.
ted as state roads. This duty, as stated
above, then devolves on the county. the
expense of which maintenance is shared
by the State.
"The Highway Commission has no
strings on tho towns. but towns may
command the services of the Commls-
sion. Under tho law it Is the duty of
state engineers, upon the request OF a
town board, ito advise and consult with
snch board in the construction or i'm
provement Of town roads; to make plans
AMI specifications when 80 required; to
exercise supervision over such construc.
tjpn or improvement, and lend every
possibls assistance to the local road au-
thorities in bettering the public high