The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-11-24
PAVE CITY STREETS;
LIGHT VEHICLES.
PROPOSALS TO BE MADE TO
NEXT LEGISLATURE BY
HIGHWAY EXECUTIVE.
UNDER PLAN ELY CAN PAVE
BABCOCK HIGHWAY
THROUGH CITY.

Plans for financing the state high
way program during 1928 and 1924
already made public, Charles nj.
Babcock, state highway commission
err, this week announced other re-
commentators to be presented by
the highway department to the
state legislature early in January.
Under the policy of promoting
public cooperation in the good
roads plan, the commissioner in
vited comments on the proposals
and added suggestions for new laws
and changes in the old ones. They
should be sent to the highway de-
partment, 1916 University avenue,
St. Paul. Everyone will receive
due consideration, Mr.. Babcock said,
but to acknowledge all may prove
too big an undertaking.
Speed Town Street Paving.
A new law will be asked to per-
nit cities and villages which are
willing to pay the interest on the
investment until such time as the
improvement is reached on the
regular state program, to pave
streets on the trunk highway sys-
tenn within their limits. Many
towns now are putting off paving
until the state is ready to pave its
1S-foot strip on their streets. Com
missioner Babcock wants the road
plan to promote instead of hinder
ing improvements and believes the
new legislation is only fair to pro-
gressive towns.
Paving to Stop Waste.
The present limit on expenditures
for paving-20 per cent of the state
highway construction fund-wil be
taken off, if the highway depart
ment recommendation prevails in
the legislation. Paving is and will
be built only where it is necessary
to stop waste of money for gravel
on heavy traffic sections, highway
officials assert. Where more than
1000 vehicles a day use road and
the maintenance cost runs over $500
mile each year, they add, the
economical and most satisfactory is
to pave the sections.
sLights for All Vehicles.
Wagons and buggies, as well as
trucks and automobiles, must carry
lights when on the highways after
dark, upon passage of another law
proposed for common public well
fare. Commissioner Babcock said a
regulation of that kind il favored
unanimously by many farmers with
whom he has discussed the proposal.
Those farmers believe that the re-
peal of the law a few years ago
was a mistake and for that reason
they are expected to file their full
support to its reenactment.
Too Many "Tax Exempt" Cars.
Claiming that road betterments
already are reducing repair, gaso-
line and tire expenses for ear own
ers and for that reason that all
cars should bear a reasonable share
of the cost of highway improve
ments, Commissioner Babcock will
ask that the 'tax exempt" tags be
abolished. Every motor vehicle
should pay its way on the better
roads in return for the savings af-
forded its owner, according to state
highway officials and engineers, all
of whom bought the regular tags at
personal expense for state-owned
cars they use In their work.
Slow Up Speed Cops.
Commissions for motorcyclemen
policing the highways and fees for
local justices will become largely
things of the past through adoption
of another proposal by the highway
department to the legislature. The
plan is to take away the incentives
under which some local officials have
been making easy money at the ex-
pense of the regulations Of their
communities among tourists and
other highway users. The change is
for the benefit of sane drivers, how
| ever, and in no way to encourage
/ speeding or other traffic law viola
tions.