The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-01-24
new STATE HIGHWAY.
PLAN NOW FRAMED
p. n. McGarry Has plan for New
Road Law to Offer. to the
Legislature.

be in adjusting the road laws Of
Minnesota so that they may go onto
a sensible and practicable basis. 1t
has already been said that he has
plan to take the chit and miss" man.
ner out Of the law and place road
making on a systematic basis.
Il know that it is likely to be un-
popular" said Senator McGarry to
the St. Paul correspondent of the
Duluth Herald, "but somebody should
do it and I feel that it is up to me.
| do not want to take the initiative
until I have obtained the consent
and sanction of Senator R. C. Dunn,
the author Of the Dunn road law,
who is now sick at his home; but
soon after that will introduce
bill to place the road making on a
systematic basis"
Senator McGarry outlines his plan
of roadmaking as follows:
"A proper organization for road
building and upkeep under the pre-
sent units of government provided
for in Minnesota would be about as
follows:
Roads to be classified into state
roads, primary county roads, second
ary county roads and town roads.
''The state road system to be an
inter-county system selected jointly
by the county board and state high
way commission, with power in the
highway commission to add to or re-
woke designations of roads as condi-
tions warrant, and to make such
changes as might be necessary to
connect main highways through the
state..
THE county road system to be Sc
lected by the county board, it being
required that they determine upon
system Immediately, which shall des-
ignate and map out the main mar
ket roads passing through or into
z Iiisore than ene town as the primary
county roads; and the other roads
which are of interest to more than
one town or municipality but not so
heavily Travelled nor of so much i'm
portance to the county, to be known
as the secondary county roads.
"All roads not included in the
state and county systems SO selected,
to be town roads.
''The organization for administra-
tion of work to be as follows: State
highway commission with state engi-
neer, deputies, division engineers and
assistants to supervise state aid con-
struction and maintenance, and give
advice and assistance to county and
town authorities on their work. The
highway commission to pass upon the
location and character of improve
ments on state roads and to make re-
quirements for maintenance of state
roads. The engineering force to
check the planning and execution of
the work. The highway commission
also to maintain bureau of infor-
nation on letting Of work, cost of
materials, etc.; and to conduct exa-
limitations Of prospective highway en-
gineers or superintendents, and fur
nish to the counties lists of eligibles
for employment as highway superin-
tendents. The highway commission
to have authority to remove county
highway superintendent if deemed
advisable.
ss The county board to make study
Of the road situation and provide ne
cessary funds, either by bond issue
referred to the people, or by cur
rent tax levy. For the purpose Of
providing necessary funds and in con-
sideration of taking over consider
able of the town roads, it is recon-
mended that the county be author
lied to levy a tax of 10 instead of 8
mill for county road and bridge
fund, which would be more than
compensated for by cutting down
the town and bridge fund maximum
from 20 to 5 mills.
''The county board to employ an ex-
perienced highway engineer as super
intendent of roads, to be selected
from list of eligibles furnished by
the state highway commission, who
should have direct control of the
work as laid out by the county board
at their regular sessions. The county
board to act on road matters only
when in sessions previously advertis-
ed, which session shall include three
tours of inspection per year with the
superintendent, over the state and
county system.
ut should be the duty of the coun-
ty board to determine, before max
ing the levy for the succeeding year,
upon the amount necessary for i'm
provements and maintenance during
the succeeding year, and the levy