The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-03-08
NEEDS BOND MONEY
TO KEEP ROAD PACE
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT WILL
CONTINUE PROGRESS ONLY .
AS FUNDS WILL ALLOW
IMPROVEMENT DEMANDED
NEW CONSTRUCTION OF 1922
THREE TIMES 1928 TOTAL
WITHOUT BONDS


without bonds, will build less than
$3,500,000 of new construction this
year, compared with more than S1O,-
100000 built in 1921 and $S,OOO,OO0
last year, according to official figures
in the highway bulletin.
Federal aid added, the funds for use
on the trunk or so-called Babcock
roads this year will approximate So
100000 but more than $3,OO0,0O0 will
be taken by repairs and maintenance,
the bulletin states. With less main
tenance demands, it adds, the total
funds were $2,7O0,O00 in 1921 and
$10,800,O0O in 1922. =
The 1923 total available for trunk
routes which carry four-ffths of the
highway traffic, is about one-thrd for
county and township roads.
The bulletin points out on this
showing that it will be impossible t,
continue the progress rate of the last
two years without bond funds. It SUBJ
mits that unless bonds are issued.
some improvements which otherwise
could be made tbs year, must wait for
three years while others on the 1924
program cannot be undertaken until
as long as six years.
| The bond plan will set the high
way program ahead five years." is the
announcement on the official figures.
1T will give the public the use of
more good roads in each of the next
twenty years from the same road
funds. 1t will distribute the cost so
that this generation will have the use
OF more good roads promptly and the
next generation will have good roads
to far more than offset the amount of
debts against them.
Farmers, businessmen-al classes
OF citizens, are continuing demands
for road improvements on the state
highway department and on the
boards of commissioners in all coun-
ties,' it adds.
The state highway department o.
fers the bond plan which will make
possible the fulillment of most of
these demands-hasten every inn
provement asked for and all without
any increase in taxes.
Here are the outstanding points of,
the highway bond plan:
No road or auto tax increases will
result.
Bonds and interest will be paid
wholly from motor vehicle taxes
through the trunk highway sinking
fund required by the state cons6,tu-
ton.
Projected highway improvements
are public necessities which must be
made by the state within few years
at most.
I Highway construction costs now
are back to pre-war levels of 1917
the lowest of record and below those
in prospect, experts advise.
Permanent improvements will mean.
savings in maintenance to more than
pay all interest on the bonds.
No increase will be necessary in the
agreed SIS average tax on automo-
biles and all bond figures are based on
that rate.
Bond money will be used only for
permanent improvements which will
last not less than 20 and as long as
100 years right-of-way, grading, etc.
Longest mileages to be improved
will be of grading and graveIing, pave
,nent to be built only where economy
demands.
Bond plan will give the public The
he of more good roads every year,
and especially during the next five
years put six years building in
TO two years.
The bond proposals are to apply the
best business practice to the highway
program and they offer the Only meth
cd of relieving the taxpayers CT To-Day
of the burden of paying for past flu
ture as well as present improv enienSs
give them fairer measures Of high
way benefits for their highway dol.
lars.