The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1922-11-23
Gravel Road Does Not Stand Up Un-
der Heavy Traffic; Cost of
Maintenance too Great.
MUST ALL PULL TOGETHER
Aitkin Citizens Are Interested in Prof.
ect; Paving Would Extend From
Elk River to Grand Rapids.

The rain and cold weather have put
our best gravel-surfaced roads in bad
condition. If it had frozen directly
after the roads had been dragged they
would be in fairly good shape, but
unfortunately we are obliged to take
the weather as it comes. The condi-
ton of our highways now only serves
to emphasize the fact that sooner or
later we must hard-surface those SUBJ
ject to the heaviest traffic.
During the summer months, by con-
siderable maintenance work, the grav-
el-surfaced roads are kept in fairly
good condition but it is absolutely i'm
possible to do so in the spring or fall.
A gravel road cannot be built to stand
up to the heavy traffic when the frost
is coming out of the ground. The peo-
pie in this vicinity know what the con-
dition of the Scenic highway is at that
season of the year.
Even during the summer months, as
the traffic increases, it is found more
and more expensive to maintain our
gravel-surfaced highways. Moreover
no one believes we have as yet seen
the maximum traffic on our roads. It
will increase each year.
The people in the counties of Mile
Laos, Grow Wing, Aitkin and Itasca
are confronted with the question as
to what will be the best and, in the
final analysis, the cheapest method of
maintaining the Scenic highway, one
of the main trunk highways in the
state.
The Scenic highway connects Elk
River with the Mesaba range country
at Grand Rapids. In the next few
years thousands of motorists each
summer will be driving from the
Twin Cities and from more southern
points to the picturesque range coun-
try. They cannot travel on more
beautiful route that the Scenic high
way, which extends through thrifty
farming community, skirts the west
shore Of Mile Laos lake, and continues
through the woods and fertile areas
in Aitkin and Itasca counties. We
have the country to show the motorists
and thousands of them will travel on
this route if the road is in good con-
dition.
Then for the convenience and hene-
fit of the residents of our county the
Scenic highway should be in good con-
dition IL months of the year. We
have a long narroy county, about At
miles in length and Is miles in width.
The Scenic highway extends through
it's whole length and is fairly central
ly located in respect to it's lateral
boundaries. It will mean much to all
the. villages and the farming COM
munities to have this thoroughfare
passable at all seasons of the year.
In few weeks the 1923 legislature
will convene. Commissioner Babcock
states the highway department does
not under the present laws have suf-
fcient funds at it's disposal to carry
on the needed road construction, es-
pecially the paving projects. Accord
ing to the 1921 law, only 20 per cent
of the state highway construction fund
can be spent for paving.
Charley Babcock and his engineers
have been right on the job for two
years, travelling over the state, in
speeding the roads and obtaining data
to learn just how heavy is the traffic
on the highways. He will propose GER
tain legislation which will make pro-
vision for showing the road construc-
ton more rapidly. He knows that
our Scenic highway is not now built
so that it can stand up under the traf-
fc to which it will be subjected. He
would be only too glad to direct all the
improvements needed if he had the
funds with which to work.
Now is the time for the people in
Mile Laos and other counties interest
ed to come together, decide upon a
program which they wish to see car
ried through and then get back of Mr.
Babcock and give him all possible sup
port. Mile Laos county has taken
one step in the right direction. She
has elected to the house and senate
men who are in sympathy with Mr..
Babcock's program and should be of
assistance to him in the legislature.
The next step should be for the people
in the counties interested to perfect
their plans and work for definite
goal.
The residents of Aitkin are much in
terested in this project of paving the
Scenic highway. They have asked for
the cooperation Of all the counties
along the route, and it is prize worth
considerable effort. If we are inter-
estcd, let us get together and pull to-
ge+her. We may not accomplish all
that we want in one year, but let us
at least make good start in the right
direction. Other communities are
awake to the situation. We must not
fall behind in the procession.
Mr.. and Mrs. W. Elliot, of St. Cloud,
were Sunday guests of DR.. and Mrs.
H. c.. Cooney