The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-07-07

this year are $26,333, 900 from al
sources" said Commissioner Babcock
"and the people are entitled to CORE.
spending benefits on the highway sys.
tenn without unnecessary delay. 1t is
to that end that the highway depart
ment is working with all possible
speed"
Less than 60 days have passed
since Amendment No. l became eff
fective l'5' the legislature, and until
that time there was neither authority
Or money available to make even PIE
liminary plans and surveys necessary
IN the development program. In
spite of this big han'lirar, however,
the department announced on organi-
zation of about 1000 members includ-
ing patrolmen in every section of the
state, and much new construction be-
gun by contractors as the summary
shows.
Fund Division Explained
The total of present season road
funds is made up of S13,35O,uDO in
round numbers OF motor vehicles, fed
eral aid and county bond money for
trunk highway improvements, AMI
S12,50O,0O0 of local taxes and state
aid to be spent by county authorities
exclusively on roads other than those
in the trunk system. Withou. county
bond funds in the future the trunk
highway total is estimated at from
100000 to $10,000,000 a year, fed
eral aid continued, while the funds for
the local or farmers road will exceed
$12,5O0,000 annually-bearing out the
statement that the Babcock plan is |
first to provide a good road to every
farm gate.
Commissioner Babcock attributes the
successful showing thus far to the
loyal, untiring assistance from J. H.
Mullen, assistant commissioner and
chief, highway engineer; o. l.. Kipp,
chief engineer, and Albert Larkin,
assistant of the bridge department;
w. F. Rosenwald, chief engineer and
M. j. Hoffman, assistant of the main
tenance department, and the division
engineers, district superintendent,
and others of the old and
new highway department organ zati< n
The cooperation of road authorities
throughout the state, the commission
er said, has also been of great as
sistance.
Farmers Know Road Needs
The so to 1 vote of Minnesota Farm
bureau members for farmers roads"
n the recent QUESTIONABLE in that or
yanization recalled the big majority
~ which Amendment No. 1 was adj
,pted to give effect to the Babcock
,lan in Minnesota.
The result is regarded as an en-
lorsement of the Dowell bill in con-
,ress which in effect sets up the Min {
esota plan as model for state high.
way development. Commissioner Bah
ock is a leader in the fight for that
ype of legislation and also in urging
prompt action to continue federal aid
. the states on the established lines.
Speeding Makes Problem
Speed breakers to prevent trunk !
outes from being converted into race :
curses as they are improved were
to Commissioner Babcock, !
ut he was not ready to comment on I
he possibility of adoption of the
road bumps at intervals sufficient to :,
lrow out the occupants Of cars runn-
~ as miles an hour or faster but
ardly preceptible at 25 or 80 miles an E
our"
"The department cannot undertake &
, police, as well as improve and 7
aintain the 1000 mile trunk highway 2
stem" he said, "but it will coop .
rate with peace officers to promote :,
,e safety of the highway using pub q
c, any practical, sensible ways that 8
ay be suggested" 2
Reports to the, highway department s
e that in some counties fines paid