The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-11-02
1928 IS ANOTHER
GOOD ROADS YEAR.
MINNESOTA CONTINUES TO I'M
PROVE CONDITIONS ON
COUNTY, TOWN AND
STATE HIGHWAYS.

Coming down the home stretch
somewhat under the lash, Minnesota
road builders and maintenance
forces, too, are winding up another
favorable season on the new high.
way bulletin this week.
Because state construction funds
are reduced by increasing upkeep on
gravel roads which do not stand ur
under heavy traffic and by REIN
bursements to counties, trunk high.
way improvements this year are not
as extensive as those of the first two
years under the new plan, the
bulletin adds. OF the $7,25O,00C
of auto taxes, maintenance took
about 100000 this year, against
$2,6OO,OOO last, and reimbursement
made further inroads.
Trunk route improvements fol
the year, nevertheless, will include
2O9 miles of grading, 37S miles OF
crawling and AZ of paving, many
new bridges and about 500 miles OF
re-graveling and 900 of re-shaping
by maintenance forces in addition to
routine upkeep.
The progress summary for the
first three seasons under the new
plan:
Miles At Start New Plan Totals
Graded --1 ,499 2,476 1875
Graveled, Il 1871 1920 4,691
Paved, 6 1872 458
While motor vehicle taxes at the
agreed SIS average on automobiles
and reasonable rates on BUSES and
trucks will pay out the state high
way plan, the bulletin repeats, most
of the new improvements this year
are to be credited to county reim-
bursement bonds-funds that must
be used in counties issuing bonds.
AS weather conditions permit,
trunk highway work will be con-
tinued this winter to profit by lower
prices and afford earlier use of i'm
provements, many contracts already
having been let with those ends in
view.
Other contracts are to be let this
winter for regular 1924 construction
but for the most part will be paid
for with county reimbursement bond
funds. Auto tax money for per-
manent construction will be limited
again next year, highway officials
announce.
Betterments on county and town.
ship or local roads this year, it is
estimated, were greater than on the
trunk routes. Although road tax
levies are being reduced rapidly
local road work is moving on a
larger scale than ever before, the
demands of main road Improvement
and maintenance no longer taking
a large part of the funds.
Farmers see that their own roads
must be improved sometime and that
it is to their advantage to speed the
work. Local roads are being built
more permanently and therefore will
cost less in the end, according to
engineers. Farmers are gaining by
the earlier use of the better roads.
Taxes will be reduced still more
when the grades are constructed and
the remaining expense will be only
that of surfacing and maintenance.
In spite of the fact that Mime
sofa roads never were better, the
bulletin states that it will be three
years at least before the whole state
highway program can be put cover
the top" Highway officials are
positive, however, that the adoption
of the best plans and methods of
financing during that period will fin
ally assure the success of the big
public enterprise. Minnesota good
and local, good
road to every farm gate-will then
be an assured fact and the public
will no longer be called upon for its