The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-29
GOOD ROADS PLANS
UP To SESSION.
MEASURES TO PROVIDE MORE
ADEQUATE HIGHWAYS TO
BE SPECIAL FEATURES
IN STATE LEGISLAT-
URE OF 1928.

Measures of immediate benefits
to be gained from present OUTLAWS
for better roads without any in
crease in taxation and of savings
by automobile and truck owners of
money which otherwise must go for
gasoline, tires and car upkeep will
be largely determined for the next
two years by the Minnesota Legis-
lature which will open its session
next Tuesday in the capitol at St.
Paul. Special interest centers in
the highway legislative program,
according to reports from all parts
of the state.
Expressing complete confidence
in the plain, good business policies
to be urged by the highway depart
ment and in the judgment of both
senate and house members, Charles
NJ. Babcock, state highway commits
sioner, predicted favorable action
on the good roads proposals.
The legislators know the public
demand for more adequate high
ways" said Commissioner Babcock,
"and the highway department will
undertake to show that they can be
built on a bigger scale for use
now and that they will pay for
themselves many times over. The
proposals are so simple and plain
that a 10-year-old school boy can
see the wisdom of adopting them.
"The bond plan will lift the bur-
den of paying in these times of
high taxes the whole cost Of road
work which viii serve for many
years and will mean further reduc-
tlons in road taxes. 1t will not
make the past pay for roads which
it should have built but it will pass
on to each future year its fair
share of he cost of highway i'm
provement. All this will be with
out increasing taxes or net costs of
better roads,"
The commissioner pointed to the
official record of nearly S1,3OO,OOO |
decrease in road taxes the first year
after the new program is transfer
red to the state and from the |
counties the big expense Of main
highway improvement and mainten-
ance. 1t is additional evidence
that the new plan is fulfilling every
promise made for it and the pur-
pose now is to obtain still greater |
and more immediate benefits from
it, he said.
Legislative delegations from the
three large cities look with favor |
on the highway proposals at their
preliminary meetings. continued
Commissioner Babcock, land when
the localities paying most and re-
ceivlng the least directly from the !
trunk highway program take that I
attitude. there is more reason to
expect the full support of members
from the country districts.
st. Paul and Ramsey county are
to seek legislation for bond issues
of nearly 100000 for street and |
highway betterments, only a small |
part of which can bring state re-
Endorsements. Minneapolis and
Hennepin county also place high
value on adequate roads for all MIN
nesota. Although only 20 miles
OF the 7,000-mile trunk highway
system are within Hennepin county.
1t pays nearly one-ffth of the total |
motor vehicle taxes in the state.
They pay six times as much state
highway aid as they receive, and |
the difference of nearly $500, 900 |
also IS used on roads in other
counties Further Hennepin county
is transferring part of its state
diu 10 nearby counties and Min
neapolis is helping privately to car
ry through other Improvements on
roads serving the city
The large centers taking that
liberal stand" said Mr.. Babcock.
the other parts of Minnesota can
not afford don't-want-your-hel
attitude. Their members in the leg
lslature when they correctly under
stand the plans will make the most
OF the present advantage, knowing
that every dollar used on the trunk
highways bring nearer the improve
ment of every part of the system. |
And that accomplished, Minnesota /
viii go forward with highway pro-
gram which will attract national |
attention despite the bigger bond |
and other funds available IN some
states"
The highway commissioner rel
peated that once correctly under
stood, the highway proposals have
claimed universal support and at
tributed to this his confidence that
legislative action will be favorable. |