The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1922-01-19
County i +.
and Town Road
!. !. Cooperation o

Commissioners Babcock Points
I Way to Get Bigger Results
on Local Roads.
Cook county, with other counties in
the state, can secure complete sys-
tenn of good local roads in the shor-
test time and with least expense by
adopting definate program Of sys-
tematic improvement; pooling it's
road and bridge funds with those of
the townships, and applying modern
roadbuilding methods.
i Charles M. Babcock, state highway
commissioner, this week made the
/ foregoing statement, and recommend
ed a call for an early convention in
each county seat, or centrally located
town in the county, at which county
commissioners and the supervisors
from every township may meet with
the county highway engineer to work
/ out definite systematic plan i of
county good roads development, By
ending common patchwork practices,
he added, the proposed plan will pro
duce the greatest results and biggest
measure possible from the money
used.
Funds available for roads other
than trunk highways in Cook county
last year were nearly $4,000, he
said, indicating the Importance Of
prompt action. Good roads conven-
tions are being recommended to all
Minnesota counties even Renville,
Carlton and some others which al
ready are operating with success un-
der the plan but where general
meeting promises additional benefits.
Minnesota county and township
road funds combined are now con-
siderably larger than the trunk high
way fund total" said Mr.. Babcock.
''While the trunk mileage is less, it
requires more costly. improvements
and maintenance, and ALL things con-
sidered, local road improvements
SHOULD easily keep pace with those on
the trunk routes, We are suggesting
the county roads conventions because
we believe great accomplishments
J possible from county-town co-opera-
ton"
Commissioner Babcock, made it
plain that the criticism is drawn by
the practices of long standing, and
not by the efforts of the county or
town road authorities whom he cred
tied with earnest work to get results.
But new and far better methods can
be employed to great advantage, he
added predicting hearty cooperation
of the local officials to that end.
County and town road officials in
convention with the highway en-
Fgineer should agree upon definite
plan of no ad improvements based on
the actual needs and Importance of
/ each road and extending over three
! or more, years." said Mr. Babcock.
"They should then pool town with
county funds to carry it out. Better
methods, heavier equipment and 50
forth, and the systematic plan can be
combined for economy and best re-
suits increased satisfaction for tax
payers and even more road jobs for
farmers. Every county engineer, I am
1 Sh4 Ha rr1o tn
ira work put upon his office because.
of the bigger benefits that will come.
"Just as the trunk highway pro-
! iects disregard county lines, so will
town lines disappear from the best
county plans, and as the state high
way department advises and assists
county with state aid and other work,
50 will the counties help the town
ships. ~
Current funds in Minnesota last
year totaled SIS, 790529~ for local
roads entirely under county and town
control, and $s,69O,00o for trunk
highways under the state depar tment,
according to official figures quoted
/ by John H. Mullen, deputy commits
sioner and chief highway engineer.
| To SIC, 843,6s2 of county and $685.
500 of town tax funds was added
$2084, 900 of state aid to make up
the local road total That was exclu-
sive M $1,308,79 Of street and road
funds il the cities and villages out
side OF st. Paul Minneapolis and
Duluth Motor vehicle taxes of about
f$5, 750, 600 and federal aid Of
i$2, $40, 900 represented the trunk to-
tai aside from mbursenent bond
funds estinated at $8,25o, 900 voted
by counties under laws no longer in
EFFECT.
80 &C., ~ - ssSs -.