The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
GIVES TEN REASONS
FOR HIGHWAY BONDS.
DEPARTMENT. BULLETIN AD-
VANCES CONSIDERATIONS
IN SUPPORT OF RECON-
MENDATIONS TO NEXT
LEGISLATURE.

Officials expressing confidence
that the proposal for first trunk
highway bonds by the next legislat-
ure will be acted upon favorably,
if fully and correctly understood, a
new bulletin from the state high
way department published the fol-
lowing:
plan Is just Good Business.
Hundreds of districts in the
state-virtually. all-borrow to build
schools, and there are as good or
better reasons for borrowing to
build roads; also state credit is
good, exceeding debts by nearly $12
for every man, woman and child in
the state.
mo Increase in Road Taxes.
Under the state constitution only
motor vehicle taxes and federal aid
can be used on the trunk highways,
and gasoline, tire and other savings
through better roads already more
than Offset automobile and truck
taxes, owners generally agree.
3-Local Road Taxes Dropping.
Relieved under the Babcock plan
of the big expense of improving
and maintaining the main highways,
counties, townships and cities and
villages are levying less road and
bridge taxes, cut of nearly ST.
100000 having come the first year.
Good Roads Economy Proved.
Recent practical tests by recog-
nized experts show that the savings
possible on gasoline and tires alone
would pay the full cost, with in
terest, of paving the entire 1000
mile system of Minnesota trunk
highways in period of five years.
5-Pay-As-You-Use Policy Sound.
Minnesota like other states is
putting nearly half of its highway
construction funds into foundations
grading, thing, etc.-good for all
time, and fairness and good bust
ness demands spreading of costs
over the years the roads will be
used.
efficient Organization Now.
Minnesota highway department,
standing on the last 18-months' re-
cord, is willing that the public
should judge whether the highway
program is being efficiently and
economically handled and whether
the state is equipped to get biggest
results and success.
Highway Bonds Agreed To.
Good Roads Amendment No. /,
adopted by a to l vote, provides
for trunk highway bond issues which
many citizens believed were being
voted direct, and the provision is
but one sound feature of a model
scheme of highway development, ex-
perts agree.
S-Will Keep More Money at Home.
The new highway program is
only diverting to road betterments
the money which otherwise would
be spent outside the state for more
new cars, extra tires and gasoline
and is not taking dollar of addi-
tional money from Minnesota motor
vehicle tax payers.
9-Highway Work Prices Are Low
Recent bids on highway improve
ment projects show that prices now
are at extremely low levels, prob.
ably lower than the state may pro-
fit by again in years, and that gen
eral conditions are right to secure
extensive highway improvem ents
with minimum of outlay.
10-Other States Speeding Up.
Minnesota must look to its repu-
tation as a Good Roads state, now
that others are using far greater
funds for road betterments-T Texas
with 100000, 900, Missouri with
$116, 100000 and Illinois With $780,.
100000 of bonds; Pennsylvania
spending $40,000,000 and Wisconsin
nearly $37,000,000 a year, and SC
forth.