Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1920-10-27

roads through increased traffic ani
trade. Traffic makes business: gooG
roads spread prosperity. Railroad cen
ters become big. cities. A store on 8
street where 10000 pass daily brings
more than ten times as much rent
ordinarily as the store located where
only 1000 pass each day Property
values increase; trade gains and as
sessment valuations rise and the i'm
changed tax rate yields larger
amounts.
| This applies equally to the metrop
oils and its great department stores
and mills and factories and to the
crossroads community with it's gen
eral store and blacksmith shop. or ga
rage. The state and community move,
only SO fast as the people can move
Good roads are used more than poor
roads. Road betterments increase ira
vel.
Bond Feature. Explained.
City property becomes more valu.
able as it is made more accessible,
and farms are worth more when
reached by good roads-the farmers
railroads.
I Fear is expressed that the legisla-
ture may permit the sale of large
amounts of bonds and thus shift the
cost of good roads largely to the gen.
| eral tax payers. Twelve Wisconsin
counties last year issued more than
$50. O0G, 900 Of bonds to build roads and
many states are bonding for road I'm
orovements.
Amendment No. provides that road
bonds up to SO, 900 a year may be
issued in the discretion OF the legis-
lature, but that not more than $75..
100000 shall be outstanding at any
one time. Also, it provides that all
bonds must be sold at par or a. premi-
UNI and that per cent shall be the
maximum interest rate. The latter
limitations are the same as those
which prevent the sale of Minnesota
soldiers bonus bonds. So the bond
section of Amendment No. / now is
virtually of no effect.
When per cent bonds were being
sold, however, unexpected increases in
the numbers of motor vehicle licenses
caused officials to announce that the
license revenue will be ample to
finance the state highway system and
that in all probability no bond money
would be needed
Special Safeguards Provided.
Should the bonds become salable,
special. safeguards are made. The:
sinking fund is created before any
bonds are issued and it can be used
only to pay bond interest and princi~
pal. With a definitely determined
sinking fund, the legislature can de-
eide how many bonds may be issued
without requiring q tax levy, as e:ts:
lily as businessman can find out from
his bank book how much money he
has on deposit. Otherwise, the bond
provisions are the same as all others
governing Minnesota issues.
Advocates of the Amendment No. /
plan hold that the bond clause may
pie, they point out, should credit be-
come easier and material prices drop,
some good roads bargains may be Sc
cured. Again, they add, should the
demand for labor slacken, bond money
might mean work for many and avert
hard times in Minnesota. They main
tain that in no event can the bonding
authority work harm and it may prove i
of great value should the bonds be-
come marketable. And under the sinks
ing fund plan and other safeguards,
the cost OF the. good roads: plan will
be paid for almost entirely with motor.
vehicle license revenue, federal aid TO-
be added also. 81
II: !! STATE sy4em Outlined. 81
z Minnesota's :,nfbtor. vehicle license
fees now are lower than those of any!
ot19r state: Automobile owners of the !
atheE, states where higher license|
funds are used for road betterments
are willing to pay further J
increases upon finding out what big
returns they receive for their money.
=. Seventy routes designated in the
make up the proposed !
state system of trunk highways. They |
are described in the amendment
which soon will be published in full |
in this. paper. The routes were select
ed by the legislature of 1919 after in.
designations and public hearings and
it is generally admitted that every
county and section was given fair con-
'ideration
The original system may be added
% when necessary to touch new coun-
y seats, the amendment provides, and
llso in the discretion of the legisla-
ure after the original system is IS
yer cent improved and necessary
unds are available
"Every Road Good Road"
The good roads plan is designed to: