The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1922-01-12
FOR BIGGER RESULTS.
C Commissioner Babcock Urges County
Conventions to Work Out Sys-
tematic Road Plans.

SVAuAAA0oAOAACA odOCOCh
stated this week that Mile Laos coun-
ty, with other counties in the state,
can secure complete system of good
local roads in the shortest time and
with the least expense by adopting a
definite program of systematic i'm
provement-pooling its road and
bridge funds with those Of the town
ships and applying modern road-build-
ing methods. He recommended that a
call be issued for an early convention
in some centrally located town in each
county of the state, where county COM
missioners and supervisors may meet
with the county highway engineer to
work out definite, systematic plan of
good roads development. By ending
common patchwork practices, he add
ed, the proposed plan will produce the
greatest results and biggest measure
possible from the money expended.
Funds available for roads other than
trunk highways in Mile Laos county
last year were about 1877 900, he de-
clared, indicating the Importance Of
prompt action. Minnesota county
and township road funds combined are
now considerably larger than the
trunk highway fund total" said Mr..
Babcock. "While the trunk mileage is
less, it requires more costly improve
ments and maintenance and, all things
considered, local road improvements
should easily keep pace with those on
the trunk routes. We are suggesting
the. county roads conventions because
we believe great accoa ishihents pos
sible from county-town Sco-operation.
County and town road officials in con-
vention with the highway. engineer
should agree upon definite plan of
road improvements based upon the ac-
tual needs and Importance of each
road and extending. over three or more
years. They should then pool town
and county funds to carry it out. Bet
ter methods, heavier equipment and so
forth, and the systematic plan can be
combined for economy and best results
increased satisfaction for. taxpayers
and even more road jobs for farmers.
Every county engineer, I am sure, will
be glad to assume the extra work put
upon the office because of the bigger
benefits that will come. Just as the
trunk highway projects disregard
county lines, so will town lines disap-
pear from the best county plans, and
as the state highway department adj
vises and assists counties with state
aid and other work, so will the coun-
ties help the Townships"
Current funds in Minnesota last
year totaled SIS, 790,522 for local
roads entirely under county and town
control and So, 500, 900 for trunk high
ways under the state department, &C.
cording to official figures quoted by
John H. Mullen, deputy commissioner
and chief highway engineer. To $10,-
843,682 Of county and $6,862,56 of
town tax funds was added $2,084, 900
Of state aid to make up the local road
total. That was exclusive of 81 $685.
794 of street and road funds in the
cities and villages outside Of St. Paul,
Minneapolis and Duluth. Motor We
hicle taxes of about $5,750,O00 and
federal aid of $2,s40,000 represented
the trunk total aside from reimburse
ment bond funds estimated at $780,
600 voted by counties under laws no
longer in effect. >..