The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-03-16
REASON FOR ROAD
BONDS SET FORTH
Charles N. Babcock Give,
His Plan To Governor
WILL TALK In KATO
Opportunity Is To Be Given
People To Learn About
E.. Proposal

Those who may be opposed to the
road bond issues as proposed by G.
NJ. Babcock, state highway commits
siOner, should hear that gentleman
when he discusses his plan at the
Orpheum theatre in this city on
Friday, March Is, at two o'clock in
the afternoon. The Free Press be-
lieves that the farmers of Blue Earth
and Nicollet counties are broad
minded enough to accord Mr.. Bah
cock hearing on what is consider
ed most important question:
question which means progression if
it is decided in the affirmative and
retrogressiOn IL the legislature
places on it the seal of disapproval.
The Free Press is extending an
invitation to the farmers Of Blue
Earth and Nicollet counties and
those in other nearby counties to
come to the Orpheum theatre in this
city Friday afternoon, March Is, at
two o'clock and listen to Mr.. Bah
cock explain his road bond proposal.
Mr.. Babcock has expressed desire
to address those who may think
other than. he does on this matter.
Reasons For Bond Issue
Reasons why the legislature should
authorize the state highway depart
ment to issue $4,000, 900 of bonds in
the next two years for road building
purposes are set forth in recon
!mendation made to Governor Preus
for such authorization by Babcock
Mr.. Babcock summarizes the fea
lures of the bond proposal as fol.
lows:
The bond involves no taxation
issues: no road or auto tax in
creases will result.
Bonds and interest will be
paid from motor vehicle tax re
ceipts through the trunk high
way sinking fund
Projected highway improve
ments are public necessities
which must be provided by the
state within the next few years
at longest
Highway constructors costs
now are back to pre- war levels
of 1917-the lowest of record
and below those in prospect for
future years.
Permanent improvements will
mean savings in the mainten
ance amounting to more than
the interest on the proposed
bonds
Bond money will be used only
for permanent improvement,
such as right of way, clearing.
grading and drainage.
Longest mileages Of improve
ments will be of grading and
gravel surfacing, pavement to be
built only where economy de-
mands.
Bond proposals will give the
public the use of more good
roads every year
Minnesota motor vehicle own
ers. paying the only direct tax
for trunk highway purposes, are
saving more than $17,500.000
year, or nearly three times the
aggregate Of taxes, assuming
that 100000 cars average 5000
miles a year, and highway bet
terments have cut their operat
ing cost only one cent mile.
Twenty Year Securities.
The bonds would be twenty year
securities, and in table Mr.. Bah.
cock shows that for this period the
average number of automobiles that
would be taxed would be 467 500.
yielding average annual taxes of
S9,710,000, and the average yearly
federal aid would be $2,753,0QO
which, would give total annual in
come of $12,463.G00. The motor tax
is based upon the assumption that
the average of $40 for each passen-
ger car will be maintained, but that
the present legislature will raise the
license fees on trucks and buses so
that the average for all motor We
hicles will be $40.
Following are the annual average
figures over the 20-year period as
compiled in tables which Mr.. Bah
cock presents:
Schedule of distribution OF funds
without the bond issue-$1, S18,75O
to sinking fund; $4,034,00O for
maintenance. ETC.; $6,610,250 for
construction; grand total, $12,643,-,
600.
Schedule of distribution with pro-
posed bond issues ,537 500 to
sinking fund: $4,000 for mainten-
ance, ETC.; $7,281 500 for construc-
ton: grand total, $13 ,563 900.
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