The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-02-12
STEARNS co. AHEAD
UNDER STATE PLAN
BETTERMENTS OF TRUNK HIGH
WAYS IN THIS LOCALITY
ARE ECONOMICAL
UP-KEEP COST IS HIGH
REIMBURSEMENT BONDS NEG
ESSARY TO CARE FOR COUN-
TY OBLIGATIONS

FalQ III 9o0l,Ioo'Vo oNeo
got back $1,156,457 90 Of road work
that is Stearns county's present
"score" under the Babcock good road
plan which has been in full effect less
than four years.
Official figures giving 1924 state
highway expenditures in detail and
the new plan total to date by routes,
also 1924 and total auto tax collec-
tions, in this count are as follows:
That every section of the 1000
mile state highway system has bene-
fitted under the new plan as lndlcat-
ed on the general tabulation for all
counties. Nine out of ten counties
have received main highway better
ments which cost more than respec-
tive amounts their automobile and
truck owners paid in auto taxes-the
only taxes for state trunk highways,
it shows.
Heavy receipts from auto taxes
and small expenditures in two OF tine
richest counties, and the reimburse
ment bond plan have resulted In CIV
ing the highway users OF today lar
err share of benefits for their pay
ments to the trunk highway fund, and
most counties more good roads than
their auto taxes to date would pro-
vide. Better highways progress to
date is credited with saving big per-
centages of its cost annually by low
ering car and truck running expenses
to say nothing of the tlme-saVlng'
greater convenience and comfort COM
ing with good roads.
Charles M. Babcock, state highway
commissioner, said the statewide fig
ures reflect the effort of the highway
department to get Minnesota out OF
the mud by making every mile OF
trunk highway passable or better, and
that Minnesota now has the largest
mileage of graveled roads OF any
state in the union. Gravel roads be-
ing the most expensive to maintain,
he added, the maintenance demands
have increased accordingly, and the
state is spending too much on that
item and too little on permanent i'm
provements. q.
The records show that S3 out of
the 81 counties in Minnesota have
taken advantage of reimbursement
bond laws to make needed highway
improvements and more fairly spread
their cost over the years they will be
used. The state department is volun-
tarily paying off such bonds bearing
high interest rates and setting aside
large amounts of motor vehicle taxes
to pay off others when due, all to
avoid local tax increases in the coun-
ties with bonds outstanding.
Hennepin, Ramsey and St. Louis
county owners are paying about AZ
per cent of the motor vehicle taxes
and the first two counties amounts
much larger than those spent on their
trunk routes. Although no state
trunk highway money is used within
the limits of Minneapolis, St. Paul OF
Duluth, probably a third of the auto
taxes are collected from owners in
those cities.
County reimbursement bond money
and federal highway aid were used tx
make the large part of permanent
improvements to date on the trunl
highways, the records show. Bono
authorizations have expired, however
and without new laws to increase
working capital provisions furthel
federal aid cannot be secured.
In connection with the auto tai
totals, it is estimated that the aver
age car owner spends about thirt.
times as much in car running expens,
as in taxes on his machine and gooc
roads enthusiasts insist that by beins
more liberal with highway funds h,
can so reduce his car running cost
as to make net gain.
The mileage in the county, tn,
maintenance and construction cos
during 1924, and the total outla,
under the new plan were included il
the figures prepared in the depart
ment.
The figures, according to the high
ways follows:
No. 3-51.8 miles in county; $27
43S.02 spent for maintenance il
1924; s3S2,994. SO spent for con
struction principally between st
Cloud and ST. Joseph and near Me-
rose) and total of $490,567. 38 i
the total road work plan.
No. 4-29.7 miles in county; Sc,
509.12 for maintenance. $17.39 flo
construction, and total of $4,000
50 in the plan.
No. 22-20. 9 miles in county; So
$1,000 spent for maintenance work