The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-05-24
MORE LIGHT ON THE
COUNTY BOND ISSUE
WILL BE PAID OUT OF RECEIPTS
FROM TAXES ON
AUTOMOBILES
PAVING QUITE LIKELY
If PLAN NATURES $500, 900. 90
WILL BE AVAILABLE ON
HIGHWAY NO. 3.

The people of Western Stearns
are considerably encouraged over
what they believe is strong proba-
bility that there will be paving this
year between Sank Centre and st.
Cloud on Babcock Highway Number
Three.
AS stated iu the Herald last week,
the Stearns county commissioners
have decided to float $25O,O0O county
highway bonds if the plan meets with
the approval of Highway Commission
er C. M. Babcock.
The entire board of county COM
missioners will act as a committee to
confer with Mr.. Babcock on this very
important matter just as soon as ar
rangements can be made to meet with
him.. 1t is hoped to have the confer
ence this week.
For fear that some citizens may
still be of the opinion that this $780,
900 county bond issue must be paid
by the taxpayers of the county, the
Herald wishes to assure its readers
that this is not the case. 1t will be
recalled that the legislature of 1919
authorized counties to float $25O,000.
highway bond issues with the pro-
vision that they were to be taken over
by the state highway department and
and cared for with receipts of taxes
on automobiles. This law expired in
February, 1922, but Sc counties of
the state had taken advantage of the
law, resulting in the issuance of
$26, ,000"bonds which the depart
ment have taken over. The recent
legislature re-enacted the county re-
Endorsement bill. Stearns county
did not float bonds under the former
law but it is the desire to do so at the
present time in order that the county
may be placed on a par with coun-
ties who have already received the
state aid.
Commissioner Babcock has emphat-
cally stated that the amount of mon
ey available for county bonds at the
present time will be limited because
of the failure of the $4,000, 600
bond issue to be passed by the 1923
Legislature. Only : counties through
which trunk highways pass having
extremely heavy traffic will be per-
mitted to issue county bonds this year
and next. Babcock Highway No. 8,
between Sank Centre and st. Cloud,
carries as heavy traffic as any high
way in the state. The complexion Of
the soil is such, over a good portion
of the way, that no amount of money
expended by the department will
keep the dirt road in passable condi-
ton. The commissioner realizes this
condition, and the Stearns county
people are hopeful that he will permit
the issuance of the county bonds to
improve this highway between Sank
Centre and St. Cloud.
The State of Minnesota also puts
in $250,O00 to be expended in con-
nection with the county bond issue.
1t is also expected that there will be
about 100000 Federal aid available
to be used on this strip of road. If
the plans are matured there will be
approximately 100000 available for
betterment of No. 3. This amount
will not pave the entire distance be-
tween Sank Centre and st. Cloud, but
it will pave the road between st.
Cloud and st. Joseph, and from Sank
Centre east to Freeport, or nearly
so, making very creditable high
way all the way.
One of the provisions of the Bah
cock road law is that money for
betterments can only be used on the
highways which have been designated
as temporary state highways. That
portion of the road between Freeport
and Avon, the Herald understands,
is the only portion of the road be-
tween Sank Centre and st. Cloud
which has been designated as a
permanent trunk highway up to the
present time. After Improvements
are completed the highways then be-
come permanent trunk lines and are
completely taken over by the high
way department.