The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-01-24
GOVERNOR WANTS
MORE GOOD ROADS
OUTLINES PLANS TIC STATE LEG.
WATER POWER,
HAIL INSURANCE AND
OTHER SUBJECTS
TREATED.

Pierre.-Governor Peter Norbeck's
message, read at the opening session
Of the legislature, took in a wide
range Of subjects, some OF them be-
ing discussed at considerable length.
He devoted most time to discussion
Of the road question, though the mat
ter Of hail insurance, water power,
school lands, soldiers land bureau
and numerous other subjects had at
tention. Among other things the
governor said:
The Roads Question.
This department really dates from
the last session Of the legislature.
which made the first appropriation
and passed the law which made it
possible for the department to &C.
complish something. The money
available from federal aid was $243,-
600; this together with the $3.50, 900
appropriation made by the state was
allotted to the different counties, ex-
cept such part as was used for the
expenses Of the department. The fed
eral department requires much tech
nical survey work which, in the opin-
ion Of the South Dakota Highway
prairie roads. This has necessitated
the employment Of several engineers
to do the surveying, and a LARGE force
OF office men to get out drawings and
blue prints. The roads when com.
pleted are very good but the amount
Of money spent for survey and office
work is much larger for federal aid
roads than where only state require
ments are met. However, there is
no way to avoid it, for If we are to
get the federal aid, we must comply
with the federal departments de-
mands.
The budget committee has only
recommended an appropriation on the
same basis as provided by the last
legislature equal to the federal add
for a two-year period. They did this
because they believed they did not
have any authority to outline a policy
which is properly the work Of the leg
islature.
In my opinion, a much larger ap-
preparation should be made. In fact,
| think We have reached a time where
the people desire a great deal OF road
building to be inaugurated. It's q
matter Of economy. If properly ex-
pended, VIZ will get two dollars bene.
fit for every dolDlr spent.
The state Of Illinois has recently
authorized a bond issue Of $50, 900 600
for the construction Of a statewide
system hard surface roads. Concrete
highways are to be built and the
money derived from the sale of auto.
mobile licenses is to be set aside to
pay these bonds.
II the South Dakota automobile Ii
law was changed to a higher
tax and graduated according to the
size Of the car, an income would be
derived of $500, 600 annually. This
would amortize and pay a very large
bond issue in 10 years. 1t would make
a large sum available for immediate
construction, and would make road
work on a larger scale possible. We
might follow the example of Illinois
and provide for a bond issue to be
paid from This income. We would
then have funds for immediate use.
/ have recommended that a gradu
ated automobile license tax law be
passed providing for a tax of about
81 on 20 horse power and graduated
to $25 for so horse power cars. This
would be about the same as the IL
linois law.
I am of the opinion that the plan
adopted by the highway department
should be continued and the federal
aid should be accepted, and the neces
sary conditions met. I am likewise
of the opinion that an appropriation
should be made for proportionate dis
tribution to counties where the coun
ties provide a like amount of funds
/ also recommend that a state high
way system Of roads be adopted
These roads should cross the state
both north and south as we'll as east
and west and they should be con.
structed and maintained by the state
highway department. A plan might
be worked out and construction work
| commenced on a system that would
in 10 years connect every county seat
with such q state road.
Water Power Development.
The constitutional amendment
adopted at the last election permits
the state to Engage in the water pow
er development enterprise. This is a
subject Of great importance. With
our high prices for fuel, power is very
expensive. The demand for cheap
power is increasing rapidly. Thanks
to the research work Of Doane Robin.
SON, and Investigations already made
by the state engineer, we have con
siderable information bearing on this
question. The plan appears entirely
JOHNSON FLAWS "RED FLAG"