The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1922-12-28
GOOD ROADS
PLANS TO FEA-
TURE SESSIONS
sie asures to Provide More Adequate
Highways TO be Special Features
in State Legislature of 1923
Highway Reconmendations
by Commissioner Bahcock

|duclng revenue from that source.
Authorizations of first issues of
trunk highway bonds of $4,000 900
each for 1923 and 1924 and to allow
all counties equal benefits from re-
endorsement law.
Other laws to speed trunk high
ways improvements through paving
Of streets in small towns willing to
pay interest, to allow best and un-
restricted uses Of available funds, to
require all vehicles on highways after
dark to carry lights, to reduce num-
bers Of "tax exempt" cars and to
prevent traffic prosecutions for pri-
Vate gain.
Measures of immediate benefits to
be gained from present outlays for
better roads without any increase in
taxation and of savings by autcmo
bile and trucks owners of money
which otherwise must go for extra
gasoline, tires and car upkeep will
be largely determined for the next
two years by the Minnesota Legisla
ture which will open in session next
Tuesday in the capitol at St. aPu!.
Special interest centers in the high
way 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 nent
and in the Judgment of both senate
and house members, Charles M. i,ab-
cock, state highway commissioner
Epredicated favorable action on the
good roads proposals.
1.-THE Legislators know the public
demand for more adequate nigh.
ways" said Commissioner Babcock,
"and the highway department will
undertake to show that they car 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 yea
old school boy can see the wisdom of
adopting them.
''The bond plan will lift the b 1den
of paying in these times Of high
taxes the whole cast of road worl.
which will serve for many yeras and
| will mean further reductions in roaC.
taxes. 1t will not make the past pay
for roads which it should have built
| but it will pass on to each future
year it's fair share Of the cost Of
highway improvement. All this will
be without increasing taxes or net
costs of better roads.
The commissioner pointed to the
official record of nearly sl,300,000 de-
crease in road taxes the first year
after the new program transferred
to the state and from the counties
the big expense of main highway i'm
! provemnt and maintenance. It is
additional evidence that the new plan
is fulfilling every promise made for
it and the purpose now is to obtain
still greater and more immediate ben
efts from it, he said:
Legislative delegations from the
three large cities look with favor on
the highway proposals at their pre-
liminery meetings." continued Com
missioner Babcock, land when the To-
calities paying most and receiving the
| least directly from the trunk high
way program take the attitude, there
is more reason to expect the full sup
port of members from the country
districts.
'St. Paul and Ramsey county are
to seek legislation for bond issue of
nearly $7,000,000 for street and high
way betterments, only a small part
'of which can bring state reimburse
ments. Minneapolis and Hennipen
county also place high value on ade
quate roads for all Minnesota. AL
though only 70 miles Of the 1000.
mile trunk highway system are with
in Hennepin county, it pays nearly
taxes in the state. They pay sly
times as much state highway aid as
they receive, and the difference OF
nearly $500, 600 also is used on road
in other counties.
Further, Hennepin county is trans
fering a part Of its state aid to near
by counties and Minneapolis is help
ling privately to carry through othe'
improvements on roads serving .ths
| city. s..s. .5- ID +
The large centers taking thai
liberal stand : said Mr.. Babcock
the other parts Of Minnesota can
not aferd = don 't-want- your=help at
titude Their members in the legis
lature when the i correctly under
stand the plans viii make the NOS
Of the present advantage knowinl
that every dollar used On the trunl