The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-10-08
.FHz 49, H.y-r-
]. AMENDMENT Il I: NO. I TO
!. BRING GOOD ROADS
(contlnued From First Page.)

Minnesota road funds last year ag'
Eregated $16,6S0,000, all told. The
{ proposed plan will provide an average
Of $27.000,00O year, officials estimate
and their figures are proving very con-
servative.
Not less than $6,30oOO0 will be de-
rived next year from the higher license
fees, they show, and that total will
grow each year as good roads increase
the numbers of motor vehicles in use.
Amendment No. also will enable the
state to obtain its full share Of $780,
O0e a year in federal aid, whereas it's
defeat will mean that more than half
the amount will be lost to Minnesota
and reapportioned among states with
better road plans.
Counties. Towns to Gain.
Thus without increasing road taxes
or selling bonds, the state will be sup
piled with all the funds that can be
economically and efficiently used on
the main highways. Relieved of the
expense of improving and maintaining
trunk roads, which now take nearly
two thirds of all funds counties and
towns will have nearly three times as
much money to spend on local roads.
Amendment No. l passed, the state
on January l.. 1921. will take over to
always maintain and to improve as its
funds will permit, about 1000 miles
of main trunk highways, as designated
a. !, ~, WI In
cially published in this paper. Funds
for the state work will he forthcoming
in automobile license revenue and
federal aid ,
Details Lett to Legislature,
The state legislature meeting early
next January. will work out admins
tration and other details of the new
plan. 1t will decide upon the new
scales Of license fees. making those on
light cars less than on heavy cars and
trucks, according to the road wear
from each. as later explained in more
detail. II will designate or create the
state board or department to carry out
the state program. The amendment
leaves the legislature entirely free to
act as good Judgment dictates. and 20
litfcal influences have been eliminated
by careful preparation Of the amend
ment.
With all state aid and tax funds, as
at present. counties and towns will be
able to build adequate and permanent
lateral or feeder roads three times as
rapidly as under the present system
The main roads will not be taking IS
to 80 cents of every state and county
road tax dollar. After turning over
about $780, 900 to the state in return
for lifting the biggest burden, the
counties and towns will have for use
on local roads more than $l5,O0O;O0O
year or nearly three times us much
as Is available now.
Things to Remember.
Two important,facts that every man
and woman voter Is urged by friends
of the plan to keep in mind are these:
Minnesota cannot meet the public de-
mand for good roads and keep pace
with other states unless Amendment
No. is adopted or taxes are increas-
ed.
To pass Amendment No. 1 requires
majority Of all votes cast. so failure
to vote at III! is the lnme as to vote
mo"
Auto Owners viii Gain.
Under the proposal now before the
voters good roads. as stated. may be
secured without increasing road taxes.
Tho new license fee on the average
car will be about SIS. it is expected.
The amount will be less on small, light
cars and ~proportionately greater on
big cars and trucks. all to be fixed by
the legislature according to the road
wear caused by each.
The average car now yields $3.50
year in license fees and personal
property taxes. Hence. the average In
crease would be about $1O.4O a year.
Automobile statistics show that op-
Grafton Of the average car costs 8 cents
milo on good roads and 10 cents on
poor roads. Allowing only l cent a
mile. the average Minnesota car owner
will have made up the increase on the
first 1,04J miles driven each year. and
benefited besides by road improve.
ments including all-year going, and
every additional mile will mean cash
profit or his investment.
More Money From Same Source.
The higher license fee plan will take
motor vehicles off the personal prop
erty tax lists. This is necessary under
the prohibition of double taxation,
The statement is made that personal
property tax revenue will be reduced
and other taxes must be raised as a
result.
Amendment No. 1 will reduce tax
revenue to that extent, but also it will
bring nearly four times as much mon
ey from the same source for a public
purpose which otherwise must be f.
nanced by Increases in general taxes
and the property owners paying the
higher amounts are ready and willing
to do So: The majority of counties
will actually gain thousands of dollars
Of public funds every year in addition
to the direct benefits from good roads.
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