New Ulm review., 1921-07-06
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT is
COOPERATING WITH THE
COUNTIES.
STATE LOCAL ROAD FUNDS
TOTAL $685. 1000 FOR
THIS YEAR.

anu lHeIIDeTS VI Ills SCdu are Ildhiill
rapid progress, under showing OF
official records made public this week
Summary of Accomplishments.
Accomplishments during the las
30-day period are summarized a
follows:
More than IS per cent of the
7,000-mile system of state trunk
highways taken over by the state
to be Improved and forever
maintained.
Maintenance organization of
more than 1000 patrolmen and
crews with 40 tractors and 1875
trucks put on the job of making
and keeping smooth the entire
system, under the $3,000,000 an
nual maintenance fund set aside
to spread benefits at once to every
section.
Contracts made for more than
100000 of new construction
mainly grading and gravel sur
facing trunk highways; calls
to go out soon for bids on another
$1,000,000 lot of projects and
still others to follow.
Approximately $4,5O0,0OO of
county bond projects for trunk
highway improvements approved
under the state reimbursement
plan and assistance given local
road authorities charged with
spending $12, 100000 this year on
feeder roads.
Many Sections Benefting.
The latest progress map, issued by
the department and based on official
records shows trunk highway improve.
ment undertakings in 46 localities
widely scattered over the state.
Minnesota road fund estimates
this year are 26,333,OOO from all
sources" said Commissioner Babcock
and the people are entitled to CORE
spending benefits on the highway
system without unnecessary delay
It is to that end the highway depart.
ment is working with all possible
speed"
Less than 60 days have elapsed
since Amendment No. l was made
effective by the legislature, and unit
that time there was neither authority
or money available to make even pre-
liminery plans and surveys necessary
in the development program. In spite
of this big handicap, however, the de
partment announced an organization
of about 1900 members including
patrolmen in every section of the state
and much new construction begun by
contractors as the summary shows.
Fund Division Explained.
The total of present season roae
funds is made up of $13,S50,00O il
round numbers of motor vehicle taxes
federal aid and county bond money
for trunk highway improvements, anc
$12,50O,OO0 of local taxes and stat,
aid to be spent by county authorize.
exclusively ON roads other than thosi
in the trunk system. Without county
bond funds in the future the. trunl
highway total is estimated at from
$9,000,000 to $10,OO0,OOO year
federal aid continued, while the fund.
for the local or farmers roads will ex
ceed $12,5O0,0OO annually bearing
out the statement that the Babcocl
plan is first to provide good road te
every farm gate'. lssls IL
Commissioner Babcock attribute.
the successful showing thus far to the
loyal, untiring assistance from J. H
Mullen, assistant commissioner anc
chief highway engineer; O.. L. KipI
chief engineer, and w. A. Pitcher
assistant, of the construction depart.
naent; J. T. Ellison, chief engineer, and
Albert Larkin, assistant, of the bridge
department; w. F. Rosenwald, CHIEF
engineer and M. j. Hoffman, assistant
of the maintenance department, and
the division engineers, district super
intendent, the patrolmen; and Others
Of the old and new highway depart
nnent organization. The cooperation
Of road authorities throughout the
state, the commissioner said, has also
been of great assistance.
Farm ers Know Road Needs.
The SO to 1 vote Of Minnesota Farm
Bureau members for farmers roads,
in the recent questionaire in that or
ganization recalled the big majority
by which Amendment No. 1 was
adopted to give effect to the Babcock
plan in Minnesota.
The result is regarded as an endorses
ment of the Dowell bill in congress
which in effect sets up the Minnesota
plan as model for state highway de-
velopment. Commissioners Babcock
is leader in the fight for that type Of
and also in urging prompt
action to continue federal aid to the
states on the established lines.
n Speeding Makes Problem.
Speed breakers to prevent trunk