New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1918-12-25

pirate for Minnesota roads az 5)O o0n
IN 1919, S2,l30,000 in 1920 and for the
following four years s2,S40,0OO annually.
providing the amendment to existing
road legislation in congress is adopted.
according to the state highway com
missioner, G. NJ Babcock.
Change Necessary.
Inc government, he says, will require
the state, to invest an equal amount in
the good roads program and to do that
would necessitate a change in the con-
stltution OF Minnesota and a bond issue.
The supreme court, he says, has ruled
that road building is work of internal
improvement.
That the bond issue will not impose
burden on the farmers of Minnesota
is Mr.. Babcock's claim. He SAYS the
plan is to increase the present auto
mobile license fee, which is the lowest
OF any state in the Union, SO that the
revenue from the sale of license tags
will provide a sinking fund that will
remove the bonded indebtedness
Mr.. Babcock pointed out that the
bonds authorized would not all be is
sued. He promised, in addition, that
the amount obtained from the national
government also would be deducted.
The program thus far formulated bv
the state highway commission provides
for system of hard paved roads con-
Meeting every important city and every
county seat in the state.
Friends of the plan promise that the
money obtained from the national gov
eminent and from the bond issue will
be used exclusively on the arterial high
ways, leaving the funds received from
the present one-mill tax isleyy, amount
ing to over; 1000, 900, for,the .improve-
ment of township line roads and other
feeders lin each county of the stats.
Under the present arrangement most
OF the money received by the counties
from the state and from their own
special leyies is used in improving the
main highways. If the bond issue is
authorized the counties will have SO
for the improvement of the feeders,
where every 81 is now expended. Mr.
Babcock said.
Autos Destroy Roads.
. . Il. 2 =. 80
As conditions now exist, the highways
OF the state are being DESTROYED by the
heavy automobile and truck traffic. A
tremendous sum, estimated at $500
mile, is necessary to keep the roads in
repair. This money is wasted, in the
opinion Of the state highway commits
sioner. Conditions are getting worse
every year as result of heavy truck
traffic, Mr.. Babcock said.
A system of paved highways turnout
the state IS made necessary, according to
Mr. Babcock, in order to put into effect
what he says is the governments plan
OF parcels post delivery by motor truck
He said the government is going to
49, - .
use the motor trucks now in France for
carrying parcel freight from town to
town IN those states where the roads
are equal to the heavy traffic. Under
this truck delivery service, MI. Babcock
said, farmers will be able to mail odd
lots OF produce to market The plan
is to have the trucks maintain regular
schedule.
The plan Of increasing the automobile
license fees, 50 that they will pay the
interest and finally pay off the road
bonds, provides that the increased license
fee shall also include the present personal
property tax on eautomo biles.
Mr.. Babcock proposes that the license
fee on motor cars be graduated tax.
based on horsepower and carrying capa-
city. He estimates that the average
car will pay a tax of $40 a year. Ford
ears will be considerable under this
figure and high powered, seven-passenger
touring cars and hoov1y fr,,<,l,e,