The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1918-06-13
4 BENEFICIAL, E Law
That's What the Dunn Road Law Is,
Especially So to the Smaller
Counties Of the State.
Can Townley Suggest Something Of
More Practical Benefit to the
Farmers Of This County?

Roads cannot be built in a day.
But every sane person in this county
knows, or ought to know, that there
has been vast Improvement in the
roads of Mile Laos county, and the
state at large in recent years since
the Dunn road law went into; effect. IF
the provisions of that law had been
faithfully carried out there would have
been a still greater Improvement no.
ticeable in the condition Of the roads
throughout the state. Minnesota has
now the best road law of any north
western state. But brains and homes
ty cannot, be legislated into the heads
Of all road officials.
A few years since the only passable
road in the spring out of Milaca was
the railroad. It is only very short
time ago that pedestrians travelling
between Milaca and Foreston were
obliged to take to the railroad track
and cross two dangerous trestle
bridges. Now, thanks largely to
County Commissioner Thomas, a good
broad highway, passable all seasons of
the year, connects the two villages.
Roads radiating from Milaca have been
immensely bettered within recent
years. There is room for still further
improvement, and the work of inn
provement is steadily going on. Ev-
cry resident of Milaca and surround
ing territory knows this to be true.
It is no mere assertion on the part of.
the writer, -
This present year Mile Laos county
receives from the state road and
bridge fund $4,000, almost eight
times the amount the county will be-
required to pay into that fund. Figure
it out for yourself, Mr.. Reader: The
total valuation of Mile Laos: countyriss
$4,570,271; the state road and bridge
tax is one mill on the dollar; and If
every dollar of tax was paid Mile Laos
county's share of that one mill road
tax would amount to $4,57O.27. But
there are always some corrections and
attachments and the full amount will
not be realized, hence it is safe to say
that Mile Laos county will this year
receive eight times more than it pays
Of the one mill state road tax. To be
sure Mile Laos county was specially
favored this year. But as long as the
Dunn road law remains on the statute
books, Mile Laos, and every other
small county in the state, is bound to
receive several times more than it will
be called upon to pay into the state
road and bridge fund. In fact every
county in the state, with the exceptions
of Hennepin, Ramsey and St. Louis,
receives more than it pays. Whyy
MARK the answer, We Nonpartisan
demagogues.) For the reason that.
almost half the wealth Of the state is
located in those three counties, and
the "rotten nch," under the provisions.
of the Dunn road law, are obliged to.
contribute largely to the upkeep of
our country roads. Under the Dunn
law those three large counties can only
receive as maximum three per cent
of the road and bridge fund each
they have not averaged 211k per cent
and have contributed about 48 per
cent Of the total. The Dunn law COM
pels those whom Town1ey designates
as the rotten rich to assist in build
ing our country roads and assist on
a large scale. That is the reason why
the smaller counties fare so we'll i'm
the distribution Of the state road and
bridge fund.- Probably Col. Cravens
and his socialistic statesmen can frame
a measure that will give us better
roads DER night. But they will not.
They are long on stirring up. strifG
and discomfort, but short on construc-
tive legislation. Has one Of the. gang
of malcontents ever proposed single
practical, common sense piece of legis-
lation- Legislation that would be of
real benefit to. the people Of Minnesota,
and especially to the farmers?
But we digress. As we have said,
Mile Laos county this year has re-
ceived, or will receive, $35, 900 of state.
aid for roads and bridges. And in adj
dition to the state aid, $50, 600 Of fed
eral aid for roads and bridges $50 600
outside aid for roads and. bridges in
Mile Laos county for one year. That
money will be expended in Mile Laos
county, and if properly expended, as
we believe it will be, will result In
lettering the roads materially.
Townley and his gang Of mercenary
aemagogues have taken several thous-
and dollars from the farmers of the
county and what have they given in.
return ?