The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-01-23
HIGHWAY PROBLEMS
UP TO LEGISLATURE.
STATE DEPARTMENT PRESENTS
RECOMMENDATIONS TO
MEET URGENT DE-
MANDS.

Discharging a sworn duty, Charles
NJ. Babcock, state highway commits
sioner, this week presented a state
ment of the present highway sltua-
ton in Minnesota, outlining good
roads needs and proposals for meet
ing them, to Governor Christensen
for submission to the legislature.
The statement is rated one of spe-
cial interest following account that
good roads legislation will headline
the present session and on account
of the great number of farmers and
car and truck owners now using the
highways in Minnesota.
''As is generally appreciated, /"
said Mr.. Babcock, ''the Legislature
of 1921 is being called upon to con-
slider and settle many difficult prob
lens relating to the disposition of
the tax burden upon the people of
the state. The popular and just de-
mand for tax reduction all along the
line will be voiced on every hand
and there will be strong solicitations
for extension of state activities, yet
there is always an economical way
out a
"The highway department trusts
the good roads needs of the state
will be considered in this light
that consideration will be given the
economy of improved and we'll
maintained roads against the ex-
penditures involved in their con-
struction and upkeep and that pro-
visions will be made accordingly to
reduce net expenditures by road
users"
Hearty greeting to each member
of the Senate and House from the
highway organization is extended
| in a highway bulletin this week,
which adds some high lights on
department recommendations. Refer
ring to the tremendous increase in
the use of Minnesota roads in re-
cent years. it goes on:
"Some $4,000 Minnesota owned
motor vehicles and many thousands
of tourist cars will be operating
this year on the highways of the
state. They will travel a total of
two and a half billion miles at a
cost to them of 100000, 900. AIDE
quate, well kept roads will reduce
this outlay by from l to 8 cents a
mile or gross total of from $685.
100000 to $75,000,000 a year. SO
the highway department recon-
mendations viewed in the light of
these figures are most conservative.
But without increased income or
advances of needed working capital
the good roads program must come
to a dead standstill, at tremendous
loss to all road users.
1.-THE highway department may. be
criticised by uniformed or unthink-
| ing individuals because of increased
highway expenditures, but no rapid
ly growing business can operate on
the same capital year after year.
The department is not responsible
for increased business traffic brings
THAT. But it is held responsible for
meeting the demands of that in
creased traffic and often by those
who urge curtailment of highway ex-
penditures.
Chow the money is TO be raised
| is a matter which must be settled
by the legislature. The department
can act only in an advisory capacity
and in that way has recommended
| the best solutions it has been able
to formulate"
In that as in other duties imposed
upon it, the bulletin asserts, the de-
partment is exerting its best efforts
to most economically and satisfactor-
lily serve the public.