The Princeton union., 1920-08-19
A FARMERS PICNIC
Highway Commissioner Babcock Ex-
plains Amendment No. l to
Several Hundred People.

Picnic Dinner Partaken of in the
Grove and Farmers Enjoy Out
ing on the Lake Shore.
The farmers picnic at Spectacle
lake on Sunday afternoon was a
marked success, about 700 people be-
ing in attendance. Although the
majority of those present were far
mers and their families, there were
several cars from Cambridge, Elk
River, Princeton and other neighbor-
ing towns. 1t was perfect summer
day and no more pleasant spot could
have been selected than the grove on
the knoll overlooking the lake.
We may be motor-mad nation, but
the insanity has at least taken an
agreeable and useful form and is not
restricted to any one class. A vehicle
drawn by horses is almost as rare
sight at a farmers picnic as at the
curb of popular theater in any large
city in the country. What a blessing
the automobile is to the farmer! In
these days, when it is almost impossi-
BILE for him to secure hired help, his
time is too valuable to spend several
hours in journeying a distance which
could be covered in one hour with a
car.
The dinners which were spread in
the grove Sunday attested to the fact
that there is at least one class of men
who are not travelling with an empty
dinner pail. In looking at the far
mers partaking Of those dinners, sur
rounded by their brown, sturdy chill
dren, there comes to mind Secretary
Lanes comment, ''Not back to the farm
but forward to the land"
After dinner Charles M. Babcock,
commissioner Of highways, addressed
the gathering. Mr.. Babcock modest
~ SCdCSS CIlclC lic ID IOG q puouS
speaker. He is, in our estimation,
the very best type of a public speaker
for a state official in his position. The
farmers who listened to Mr.. -Babcock
Sunday wanted to hear facts stated
plainly in clear English; they did not
go to hear spellbinder dealing in
generalities. He frankly admits the
highway department. has made mis-
takes, some roads are not receiving
the attention they deserve, and he is
being just as honest and sincere when
he says these mistakes will be recti-
fled at the earliest possible moment
Mr.. Babcock doesn't know how to
bubble, he means exactly what he
says, and we do not believe there
would be person in his audience who
could fail to feel the sincerity Of the
man. Moreover, he knows more about
the subjects he discusses than any
other man in the state.
Here are some figures, furnished
by Mr.. Babcock, showing exactly what
the adoption Of Amendment No. 1 will
mean to Mile Laos county in dollars
and cents. AS has been several times
explained, the money necessary to
finance the Trunk Highway System of
1000 miles is to be derived from a
tax on automobiles. If this is imposed
it will be in lieu of the present per-
sonal property tax on automobiles
The total personal property tax on the
1910 automobiles in Mile Lacs coun-
ty is $9,098.S4. Of this sum $1,101.3 .32
is paid to the state, leaving to the
county a balance of $7,99752 If the
amendment is adopted the state will
assume the entire cost of construct
ing and maintaining 50 miles of high
way that are included in the Trunk
Highway System in the county. The
average cost for simply maintaining
this road this past year has been $244
per mile, making total for the SO
miles of $16,836. According to the
provisions in the amendment the coun-
ty will lose the personal property tax
(, on automobiles, amounting to s7,997
and will receive in return $16,836
This sum of $16,836 represents only
the money that the state would spend
maintaining the road, if the amend
ment is adopted. In addition to this
the state would spend thousands OF
dollars during one year in road con.
struction in this county. Now the
adoption of this amendment need not
necessarily, increase the taxes one
cent of a man who does not own ar
automobile. The money for the roac
and bridge fund is derived by the
county commissioners fixing certain
rate on the total assessed valuation OF
the county. When the state assumes
the entire expense for the construction
and maintenance of certain roads il
the county: the road and bridge f,1nf