The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-01-06
MINNESOTA
ROAD NEWS.
ITEMS OF INTEREST IN THE
GREAT ROAD BUILDING
CAMPAIGN.
Rate Gu, Mean. More Roads.

Minnesota will have about $780,
900 less freight to pay on sand ana
gravel and other materials for lus
1922 work on trunk highway I'M
proyements under a freight rate
reduction order made this week by
the state railroad and warehouse
commission. The big saving will be
used to-, extend needed highway
betterments.
The rate reduction order made
public by Commissioner Ivan Bowen
of the railroad body, Charles M.
Babcock, state highway commission
err, estimated the freight saving
and declared the figure conserva-
tive. Furthermore, he added, high
way department contracts are so
worded that every dollar saved will
revert to the state-not the con-
tractors.
The lower freight rates mean
that Minnesota will have an addi-
tional quarter million dollars for
use this year to spread and speed
benefits from Good Roads Amend
ment No. that sum will go into
public roads and not to the rail
roads as would have been the case
OIHerWlSe, Sdiu TIE highway cASS-
utive.
Commissioner Babcock several
weeks ago demanded lower rail
rates on road building materials.
A few railroad officials offered to
make cuts on individual projects
but the commissioner insisted upon
a general, fiat decrease. He car
ried the matter before the railroad
and warehouse commission with the
favorable result.
State Furnishes Trees.
William T. Cox, state forester,
this week announced that the for
est department has procured 10000
young walnut trees for planting
state parks and along state trunk
highways. Charles M. Babcock,
highway commissioner, approved
the plan as related to the beautifi-
cation of the state roads.
Three-fourths of the consign-
ment will be available for plant
ing on the highways, after the
park acquisitions have been filled,
Mr.. Cox said. These will be dis
tributed in the southern part of
the state, especially south of the
Minnesota river, where they are
most apt to thrive. An organiza-
ton at Mortified purposes to plant
a number on the Northfeld- Fari-
bault pavement on State trunk
route No. /, and women's clubs in
a number of towns are negotiating
for supplies. The young trees, now
about Is inches high, will mature
in about Is years, the forester
said. They will be furnished where
individuals or organizations will
guarantee proper planting and
care.
Although the forest service is
without large supplies of trees
suitable for planting on the road
sides in the northern half of the
state, Mr.. Cox said it will cooper
ate with local parties toward Sc
curing them. The service recon-
mends the planting of elms, hack
berries, passwords, spruces and
pines in those sections, and favors
nursery over wild stock.
-" 49,
Minnesota Second.
Minnesota ranks second among
the states in miles of roads built,
under construction or under con-
tract for construction, in conjunc-
ton with federal aid funds. The
government bureau of public roads
so reports in a new bulletin cover
ing the period from July 1, 1916.
A big part of the Swear showing,
however, was made during the
eight months the Babcock good
roads plan has been in effect.
Minnesota is credited with l.
1884 miles of such roads at an
estimated cost of $17,509,911.01,
including $6,947,373.63 of federal