The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-02-16
OPPOSITION TO
ELY-BUYCk ROAD,
TAXPAYERS LEAGUE ENLIST.
ED AGAINST THE PROJECT
GIVE VIEWS IN
CIRCULAR.

A statement that the proposed
Ely-Buyck road may cost the. tax
payer as much as 100000 is
contained in bulletin Of the Tax
payers league, which asks the citi-
zens whether it would not be bet
ter to consider the project care
fully before making a definite
agreement to build the road. =
The bulletin declares that an i'm
portant function of the county
board of commissioners is the de-
termination of policy in matters of
road constructor. "The Taxpayers
league" the bulletin continues, "be-
lieves that question of policy is
involved in the proposed construc-
ton of the y-Buyck. road through
the Superior national Forest
The Ely-Buyck road project or
iginated with the Federal forestry
department some years ago, accord
ing to the bulletin. 1t is consider
ed by them as road necessary for
forest service and timber pretec-
ton. On Dec. 9, 1922, the county
board adopted resolution reaffirm-
ing its previous resolution of Feb.
8, 1922, pledging the financial CO.
operation of the county with the
Federal government in financing
the Ely-Buyck project. The county
agreed to appropriate $4,000 of
county road funds provided the
Federal government would meet
this appropriation with 100000 of
Federal aid.
The articles of agreement have
been forwarded to Washington and
are waiting Federal approval Should
the county decide not to continue
the construction, and it still has
time to withdraw, it is stated, the
money can be applied to the con-
struction of other approved national
forest roads in the state.
"A reconnaissance of November
shows that for $4,000 the best
type of construction that may be
expected is trail, having $40 feet
of timber bridges, 397 wooden cul-
verts, and roadway 16 feet WIDE"
the bulletin continues.
IF greater construction difficult
ties are encountered than the re-
eonaissance disclosed the road width
will have to be reduced to keen
within the appropriation. The six
teen-foot width is doubtful. A mar.
rover trail may be expected. Rea-
sonable maintenance cost is estimat-
ed at $75 to $3.50 per mile con-
tingent upon the traffic burden.
The trail will pierce for a dis.
lance of forty miles or more that
part of the Superior national for
est heretofore inaccessible by auto
mobile, Being accessible it will
probably attract tourists. A road
suitable for increased traffic may
then be demanded If the Ely
Buyck road is. improved to compare
reasonably with the roads with
which it will connect, total con-
struction cost of 100000 may be
expected, and as much, again if
branch roads to other parts of the
forest are later demanded.
"The termini of the proposed
roads are township IS, range II
and township 63, range IL. Both
| of these townships constantly need
road funds for maintenance OF
roads noy constructed or for new
| construction. The present road tar
| in the four other townships through
which the road would be construct.
| ed yields total of less than $4,000
| yearly. This amount would defray
| the maintenance cost.
"The first cost to the county OF
$4,000 which may amount to
100000 or even S1,000,000 as well
| as the maintenance cost, must be
derived from the county road fund
In plain words, this means either
an increased road levy, or curtail.
ment of road construction and OF
maintenance in other parts of the
county"