The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-03-15


Sinking fund $1,S1S,75O $3,537,5OO
4,O34,oOO 2,744,OOO
6,61O,25O 7,1S1, 500
Total 12,463,OOO 13,463,OOO
Offering advantages briefly reflect
ed IN the above figures, proposals for
first issues of state trunk highway
bonds have been formally recon-
mended by Charles M. Babcock, state
highway commissioner, to the legisla-
ture. Prompt introduction of bills
In the house and senate is expected
to follow.
"The proposition is concisely pre-
sented in the summary" said Mr..
Babcock. "The state can go on, as
now, setting aside in the sinking fund
enough to pay country refundments-
and reimbursement bonds and inter-
est, using excessive sums for end
less repairs and the remaining funds
for betterments. But / believe the
members of the legislature will see
where the funds can be better used
by putting more into lasting improve
ments, reducing the maintenance ex-
penses and increasing the sinking
fund allowances, the latter meaning
provisions for bonds and interest nee
essary to afford temporary working
capital" The commissioner explain
ed that tables of alternate uses are
based on the same annual income,
and the total on the last column is
81 100000 larger only because that
amount is added both in the sinking
fund and improvements items in each
of the 20 years covered, represent
ing the proposed $20,000,O00 of
bonds.
Recommendations for bonds, the
commissioner indicated, carry to the
Legislature the responsibility for fin
ancing the state highway program for
the next two years and longer. The
same funds under the bond plan, he
emphasized, will give highway users
more good roads for years and es-
pecially in the next five years than
can be afforded without issuing
bonds.
The statement accompanying the
bond recommendations gives all fig
ures in detail, together with other
information relating to highway de-
velopment.
'The figures show how possible saw
ings on maintenance can be turned
into permanent improvements, how
earnings of the improvements thru
reduction of upkeep expenses will lay
out under the bond plan," continued
the commissioner. "But there are
other savings far bigger than the
earnings.
Greatest returns will be those to
highway users, including the auto
mobile owners who will pay all di-
rect taxes going into the fund.
cat present auto tax rates, Min
nesota will have an average of $12,-
463,00O a year to use on the trunk
highways. The bond plan will give
the use of good roads which easily
will save car owners am average OF
S23,750,000 a year, much more than
will be possible otherwise. 1t will
divert money, from constant repairs
to. lasting improvements with the re-
suit that at the end of the twenty
. years the highway system will be
worth $685., 900, while without
bonds the total will be only $685.
6O4,0O."
| The foregoing statements, it was
explained, are based on conserva-
tive premises that with bonds, the
highway DeICeIIleiiIS Will Cuc OhS
tenth or 1-cent mile off the cost OF
, operating motor vehicles. Further,
that the number of cars will aver
age 467,500 during the period and
each will be driven an average OF
5000 miles a year. Thus the saw
:, ings would average $23,750,000 q
: year, against $12,463,000 used or
: the trunk system. All proposed bono
: funds and 40 per cent of each year:
disbursements going into permanent
improvements, the cumulative value
!, of betterments will be $98, 154 900
a under the bond plan, against S92
l. 6O4 900 without bonds, and all from
: the same average outlay.
SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICES
X Special services will be held at 81
h Pauls Catholic church starting Satur
: day March II, and ending Monday
: March 1910 hours of devotion. Sat
: urday evening an English sermon viii
be preached by Rev. FIR Schirmer o
n Osakis Sunday evening at 1880 Rev
b FIR. Petemeire of Glenwood will ais,
/ deliver an English sermon. The clos
ing of the devotions will be Monda!
morning at 500 o'clock with Solemn
4