The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-03-30


1924 are before the Minnesota legis-
lature on formal recommendations
from Charles M. Babcock, state high
way commissioner. Outstanding fea-
lures of the bond proposals, as pre-
ented, as these:
No road or auto tax Increases will
result.
Bonds and Interest will be paid
wholly from motor vehicle tax re-
ceIpts through the trunk highway
sinking fund, as made mandatory by
the state constitution.
Projected highway improvements are
public necessities which must be pro-
vded by the state within the next
few years at longest.
are back to pre-war levels of 1917
the lowest of record and below those
In prospect for future years accord
Ing to economic experts.
Permanent improvements will mean
savings in maintenance amounting
to more than the interest on the pro-
posed bonds.
No increase in the agreed average
tax of S18 on automobiles will be
necessary-all figures are based on
that rate.
Bond money will be used only for
permanent improvements better
20 and as long as so and 100 years,
such as right of-way, clearing, grad
will be of grading and gravei surfac-
ing and drainage.
Longest mleases of improvements
Ing, pavement to be built only where
economy demands.
Bond proposals will give the public
the use of more good roads every
year, and especially in the next five
years as shown by conservative tig-
ures.
The proposals are advanced simply
to apply the best business practice to
the highway program and oHer the
only method of relieving taxpayers OF
the present of the burden of paying
for past and future as we'll as pres
ent highway improvements.
Reviewing briefly the development
of the state highway program, outlin-
ing conditions making the bonds good
business" at this time and giving hg'
ures to show that the bond plan will
mean more highway betterments from
the same money during the next TWEEN
ty years and especially the next five
years, Commissioner Babcock makes
the following explanatory statement:
Public Approves Plan.
Minnesota, by 526,936 to 199,602
vote of the people, amended its con
stitution to put upon the state the OBJ
legation of improving and forever
maintaining the system of trunk OF
primary highways now measuring
nearly 1000 miles.
The state is solemnly bound to put
and keep this highway system IL
adequate condition and authority tc
that end is. vested in the Legislature
The constitutional amendment limits
funds available for the purpose to fed
eral highway aid appointments and
the proceeds of taxes on motor We
hicles. The voters approved an aver
age annual tax of SIS on automobiles
There is no authority to levy,any Other
taxes for use on the trunk highways
1t is provided, however, that the re
ceipts from motor vehicle taxation
may be anticipated and that trunl
highway bonds may be issued.
Minnesota's present highway pro
gram, it will be recalled, dates bacl
to early in 1919 but the plan has beer
in full operation only since May, 1921
or less than two years.
The original plan submitted to the
Legislature of 1919 proposed the de
signation of a state highway system o
sixty trunk routes measuring 5000
miles. The Legislature added tel
routes and increased the total to ZOO
miles. Believing that financial pro
visions would prove adequate in spit'
of the enlargement of the system
highway officials acquiesced in the ad
ditions The change was important
nevertheless, because it was the frs
step toward increasing demands OIL
the funds without providing more re
venue.
Increases Demand on Funds.
After embodying the highway plal
in a constitutional amendment for sub
mission at the following election, thu
Legislature of 1919 authorized coun
ties to issue bonds and use the pre-
ceeds on the proposed trunk route
with an implied understanding tina
refundments and reimbursemnts o
amounts so expended would be mad
from the trunk highway fund whel
created.
A debt of SIG, Zoo, 900, saddled on tn
state highway fund at the very out
set, was the result. This also wa
outside the original plan.
The charge probably is true tina
during the good roads amendmen
campaign the statement was made
never would be necessary to issu
trunk highway bonds. That statemen
never was authorized by the highwa
department and its officials state
only that no bond recommendation
would be made to the Legislature @
1921-a pledge that was kept.
1t is also a fact that trunk highwa
bonds would not be needed were it nc
for the $4,000, 900 of refundments an
reimbursements. But these county oil
legations will make heavy drains o
trunk funds every year Of the next DE-
cade and particularly from 1920 t
1882, inclusive, when payments o
them will total $22,402,S46.
Under the constitution, sinking fun
allowances must be set aside befor
any money can be used for maint'
nance or construction. The require
ment viii take the first s2,500,000 {
motor vehicle receipts this year.
Minnesota used on its trunk higl
ways s12,7O6.oO0 in 1921 and $10.S2S
000 in 1922 But the progress the las
two years cannot be approached thi
year or next unless the bond fund
ars forthcoming to tide over the ten
porary stringency.