Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-28
MINNESOTA TO
INCREASE ROAD
BUILDING WORK
Amendment Made to State
Constitution Enabling High
way Board to Obtain
More Funds

st. Paul. MINI, Aug. T-MfnnesotA
this year is launching an ENLARGED |
public highway development program
under the BabcoclS plan, formulated |
by Charles NJ. Babcock. state commits
sioner of highways, and adopted un~'
der an amendment to the state const-
tuition by a vote of 526.a36 to 19s.eos.
Federal aid forthcoming on the FORM |
er basis, Minnesota will have available ,
this year approximately s2s.S3SO 900 for !
state trunk and county local road i'm
provements. Commissioner Babcock
has just returned from Washington I
where he fought for federal highway
provided in the Minnesota program.
The 1921 highway fund estimate is ex-
elusive of paving and other street i'm
provements being made by cities and
towns thru local expenditures.
Previous to the adoption Of the
Bsbcock plan. all public highway
maintenance and improvements in
Minnesota we're made by county and
city or town authorities. The Minne-
sofa highway department acted large
" in an advisory capacity, especially
on federal and state aid projects.
Highway funds represented the feder-
al aid apportionmcnt OF $500"
year, and the proceeds of a 1-mill tax
spportiorcd in aid to counties and on
local levies, and last year made
grand total Of about $4,000. go
The Rabcock plan. adopted by con-
stitutional amendment, transfers to
tho state about 1000 miles OF arterial
or trunk highways for future main
| tonance and improvement. 1t provides
| that an oncrous tax may be levied. IN
| lieu OF other taxes. on motor vehicles
and that the proceeds. together With
any federal funds apportioned. shall
| be used for the Improvement Of this
| trunk highway system.
[ Trunk highways listed in the const-
tutional amendment extend into every
| section Of the state, thru the import
making Minnesota known as state
| Of ten thousand lakes.
| Adoption Of tho constitutional
| amendment followed vigorous cam
| pairn directed by a semi-puhlic cor
| poration which had branches in every
| community in tho state and raised for
| its support approximately $4,000 II
contributions. Minnesota newspapers
were given the lions share Of credit
| for tho success of tho campaign and
continue to cooperate with the hish-
way department toward maintaining
public interest in good -o,ds now tina.
| tho now plan is being launched.
The amendment became eHect-s-
Jan I. 1871. but because 81 many
| administrative problems presented the
legislature did not proy1d. the de-
partnent machinery until April -
| After extensive Investigation and
study. tho on"-man system OF high
wav administration vas adopted IN i
preference 10 tho commission or boa ID !
plan. Highway statutes were COM
plctcly rorodined
4 schedule OF motor vehicle tresI
was worked out. owncrs paving IN leo
OF other faxes and licenses. sYcere 1
wheeIsEe levics in some cities, per
cent annually on tho basis Of the fact |
orr price listed. with depreciation al |
lowanccs Of - per con, after : years I
and m per cont after Hve wears. and
tax minimung Of ti7 on pleasure ears
and fi5 on trucks. Nearly ts.onn nnH .his
rcar iH expected under the schedules
given.
In tho ars, thre. months Of r>ad
building under tho new plan. the fol-
lowing was accomplished.
About 500 of the 900 miles Of trunk
routes temporarily designed and taken
over nv tho state for maintenance
An army Of ii2s pairn'men cover
ing tho system 10 smooth temporary
routes until permanent improvements
can he extended.
Another big maintenance force,
equipped with 80 trucks snd "A tract
orH-surpluH war equipment rebuilt
for road wors-sha ping up highways