The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-02-04
Ninety Per Cent of Funds to Be
Raised By Bonds for
Roads and bitches
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS
PLANNED FOR SPRING
Cement Shortage of Last Year
Evidently Will Not Be
Repeated in 1921

81. Tuul, ceU. f.1-AlIuOuSA GA
IRENE caution and conservative plan
ming are noted in many counties and
cities of Minnesota, bond issues ag-
gregating several million dollars have
been authorized by county commits
sioners and city councils and a num-
Der of issues-large and small-are
under consideration, judging from
data received during the past week by
the Merchants National bank Of St.
Paul.
1t is evident, according to reports
from bankers in many counties, that
nearly 80 per cent of the funds to be
raised by sale of bonds, will be used
during 1921 for ditch and road con-
struction. Several boards Of county
commissioners considered the adj
visibility of taking steps to author
ize the construction Of modern court
houses and public buildings, but af-
ter receiving estimates from contrac-
tors, decided to wait until summer. at
least.
A fairly large sum will be spent for
building and improvement of public
schools, but most of this total amount
will be obtained through taxation.
The consolidated school idea seems to
be gaining in popularity in rural Sec
tions and it is quite probable that at
least dozen consolidated schools
will be erected this spring.
A few cities are planning to inn
prove their public utilities plants.
The question of municipal ownership
of electric light plants will be dis
posed of at special elections in few
cities and towns before June 1. Da-
kota county has disposed Of $250,000
bond issue, and an aggressive cam
paign of road building and other i'm
provements is planned. No bond is
sues are projected in Saltwater or
Washington counties. Red Lake
county has an important schedule.
The county auditor has been instruct
ed by the county commissioners to
advertise for bids on a bond issue of
$4,000 for road work and nearly
$4,000 in bonds are to be sold to
finance the construction of a county
ditch.
Thief River Falls will issue $780,
900 in bonds during February for
paving program of unusual scope. Ac-
cording to present plans, the council
will authorize the paving of between
10 and "a blocks. St. Louis county
has sold $25O,OOO of road bonds. Con-
siderable road constructions is being
planned for the Iron Range district.
A highway connecting Virginia and
Eveleth will be paved with concrete
for four miles out of Virginia. Two
grade schools will be built at Vir-
ginia, where school facilities have not
been adequate.
Farmers in Fillmore county are
planning to do considerable barn
building and some road work is un-
der consideration. No bond issues
have been proposed thus far. The
city Of Jackson has issued $1,000 in
bonds for improvement of the water
works system. Beltrami county,
which was vigorous booster for the
Babcocl, good roads measure, has de-
cided upon bond issue of a quarter
of a million dollars and road con-
tracts totaling 100000 already have
been let The balance Of the con-
tracts will be closed prior to May 1.
Bemidji will have a new high school,
which is to cost about $235,O0O and
which will be financed by bonds.
Cement and building supply COM
panies in Minnesota and adjoining
states have been active in soliciting
business. The historic cement short
age of 1920 evidently will not be re-
peated, as Iowa companies, which
supply large sections of the state,
have promised unlimited quantities"
with prompt deliveries guaranteed. In
several of the southern counties,
business men are considering the or
ganization Of cement companies.
Sharp decreases in the prices of lum-
Der and building materials have been
discussed at county board meetings
but judging from variety Of news
paper reports, the commissioners de-
cided to postpone consideration of
building plans until spring or sum-
mer. Seemingly, they anticipate fur
ther reductions in materials and low