The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-11-01
CHALKS UP ANOTHER
BETTER ROADS YEAR
CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE ON
COUNTY. TOWN AND STATE
HIGHWAYS
TRUNK OPERATION CUT
LOCAL ROADS ARE BUILT IN
SPITE OF NATIONAL TAX
REDUCTIONS

Coming down the home stretch
somewhat under the lash, Minnesota
road builders and maintenance forces,
too, are winding up another favor
able season on the new highway pro-
gram. A preliminary review of 1928
progress is given in a highway bull
letin this week.
Because state construction funds
are reduced by increasing upkeep on
gravel roads which do not stand up
under heavy traffic and by reimburse
ments to counties, trunk highway
improvements this year are not as
extensive as those of the first two
years under the new plan, the bulle-
tin adds. Of the $7,250,O00 of auto
taxes, maintenance took about 49,
100000 this year, against $2,600,00
last, and reimbursement under fur
Their inroads.
Many Improvements Added
Trunk route improvements for the
year, nevertheless, will include 200
miles of grading, 378 miles of grav-
cling and AZ of paving, many new
bridges and about 800 miles of re-
crawling and, 200 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 3,975
Graveled -. 1871 1920 1891
Paved $3.50. Sc 1872 458
While motor vehicle taxes at the
agreed $18 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 county reimbursement bonds
issuing the bonds.
Work to Go On in Winter
AS weather conditions permit,
trunk highway work will, be contin-
ued this winter to profit by lower
prices and afford earlier use of inn
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 pair for
county reimbursement bond funds.
Auto tax money for permanent con-
struction 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
lewes are being reduced rapidly To-
cal road work is moving on a larger
scale than ever before, the demands
of main road Improvement and MAIN
tenance no longer taking large part
of the funds.
s 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 Minnie
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 "over
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
roads trunks and local, q good road
to every farm gate-will then be an
assured fact and the public will no
longer be called upon for its sup
port.