The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-10-06
LOCAL ROADS I0BENEFlT
T.: C00DR0ADS AMENDMENT NO. !
Beram County Will Gain in Road Funds Through Adoption
of Babcock Good Roads Plan at Polls in Novem-
- Der, Official Figures Show

Beltrami county roads, like those
in many other counties, are growing
grAdually poorer in spite Of recent
Increases in road taxes.
Good Roads Amendment No. l is
designed to solve the problem Of bet
ter maintaining and improving roads
without further increasing taxes or
issuing road bonds as is being Gone
in many states. The plan will as
complish that, it is explained, mainly
keep OF main highways and placing
that heavy expense on the motor traf-
fc which is rapidly increasing road
requirements. Friends Of the plan
present 1920 and 1921 comparisons
furnished by the state highway de-
partmcnt in support Of their claims.
Shows Local Gains.
There are 1,745 miles OF public
roads in this county. ROAD money
this year includes $S4,295 Of county
and $76,14O of town taxes: $29,O35
of state anu $4,000 OF federal aid,
also 100000 of bond revenue.
The grand total is $279,561 and
approximately $290,065 of it is be-
ing spent upon the trunk highways
which are to be taken over by the
state. Thus only $S9,496 now is be-
ing spent on the local roads.
Under amendment No. !, however.
there will be available, next year
about $2O5,14Q, against the $50, 496
figure this year-a gain of S115,644
without issuing any bonds.
S15.OOO.OCO for Local Roads.
To the larger 1921 fund, county
taxes will yield 100000, township
taxes $76,140, and the state aid will
add probably $4,000 as this year.
The ,county-town roads will measure
1852 miles after trunk highways are
taken over by the state.
Beltrami county will have gained
nearly $4,000 for use on the lateral
or farm roads. without increases in
road taxes or issuing road bonds.
will aggregate $25,000.O00 next year,
against less than $17,OO0,O0O this
year, and steadily increasing amounts
will be provided in succeeding years
under the proposed plan. The state
will have about $10,000,000 year
for the trunk roads and the counties
and town more than $15,OOO,OOO ev-
cry year for local roads exclusively.
The benefits to the counties and
towns at once are apparent from the
big gain in funds actually available,
friends of the proposal maintain, and
every road will be made good road
in short order.
Increases Cash Gifts.
H. fhof tho ctofo nv
spending $1O,O00,O0O year during
the next six years can properly grade,
drain and gravel the entire 1000
nile state system and also hard-sur-
hoe more than 1900 miles of those
carrying the heaviest traffic. 1t will
be obliged first to put and keep every
mile of the system in good condition,
and then, as. funds permit and ac-
cording to traffic demands. to use
the surplus each year to permanent
betterments.
Beltrami county already is receiv-
ing $4,000 of state and federal
aid. Advocates of Good Roads Am
endment No. 1 claim that the new
plan will on the average double this
gift from the outside. They explain
that the proposal 'looks too good to
be true" to some citizens, but recall
: that the same applied to the Bob
Dunn 1-mill tax amendment. The
fact is that's all additional funds will
come from higher motor vehicle Ii
censes and federal aid, and that the
automobile and truck owners gener-
ALLY favor it. Questions about Am
endment No. will be answered in
that paper If briefly and clearly stat
ed.