The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-07-15
Reducing Experiences Have
Been Ordered for Trucks
State Highway Department to Weigh
Vehicles and Enforce Minnesota's
Maximum Load Law

The reducing fad has hit the motor
vehicles of Minnesota. Plump and ro-
bust looking trucks and vans are be-
ing weighed and reducing. exercises
will be prescribed for those that are
found to be overweight. The fact
that the machines are being weighed
and watched is causing operators of
other machines to reduce their loads,
lest they too be weighed and found
too heavy.
The maximum weight permitted on
any highway in the state is $4,000
pounds gross for a vehicle of four
wheels or less. Not more than 22,40O
pounds is permitted on one axle and
not more than 800 pounds per inch
width of tire is permitted on any
one wheel. The width is defined as
the distance between the fanges of
the rim.
An apparatus for weighing vehicles
on the road is being put in operation
by the state Highway department. No
advance announcements are made
of where the apparatus will be locat-
ed, but it will be moved from time
to time to different highway in var
ious parts of the state.
Since state highway department Of
ficials and employees do, not have po-
lice power, sheriffs and county at
torneys in several localities have
been interviewed, and all of them
have given assurances of full CO.
operation. In some localities, where
serious damage has been done tc
highways by overloaded vehicles, the
authorities or individuals interested
in good roads have written and urged
the department to take some action
The damage which may be done by
excessive loads is well understood
and public sentiment is generally in
favor of enforcing this law. The
weighing will be done by employees of
the department. Arrests and prose
cution, if deemed necessary, will be
in the hands of county or other local
officials. No firm and fixed rule has
been laid down as to first offenders.
If they give promise of complying
with the law, they may be let off with
warning. Records will be kept,
however, and in case of second of
tense every effort will be made to
have the maximum penalty imposed.
The law also defines the maximum
width of vehicle and load as SO inches,
except traction engines which may be
108 inches. The maximum height is
IL feet 6 inches and the length
shall not exceed 80 feet for one We
hicle or 85 feet for combination of
vehicles.
Vehicles of greater size or weight
than the legal limit may be used on
the highways for short distances if
the owners get written permission
from the authorities in charge of the
road to be used.
Increasing Crop Toll Taken By
Green Bug-After inspecting more
than 100 fields while on 900-mile
auto drive in more than score of
Minnesota counties, C. E. Nickel and
F. w. McGinnis of the University
Farm staff, declare that the green bug
has inflicted tremendous damage up
on wheat and oats in the southern
half of Minnesota.
This is the worst insect outbreak
experienced in many years." said Mr..
Nickel. "Since the first discovery of
the presence Of the bugs, the area OF
damaged grain has increased stead
lily. Wheat fields Of 20 to 30 acres
have, in many instances been stripped
clean. Many farmers have plowed
up their wheat and corn and have
planted fodder corn, millet, or buck
wheat.
Favorable conditions for theg reen
bug tribe and unfavorable conditions
for parasites account for the extra
ordinary infestation this year. We
found parasites in spots, but yet too
few in numbers to prevail over the
bug"
Mr.. Nickel held meetings with
farmers at Brooten, Belgrade, and
Georgeville, in Stearns county, and
Regal in Kandiyohi, to discuss the
situation and plan emergency crops.
Yale Men Will Study Forest Tax
ation-Just what type of taxation is