The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-12-16
Minnesota Highways Make
Hit With Omaha Editor
Roads, Farms, Lakes and Woods
Win Fulsome Praise of Writer
in Observation-Disclosures

Roads, Farms, Lakes and Woods
Win Fulsome Praise of Writer
in Observation-Disclosures
Minnesota made a big hit with
H. Howard Biggar, farm editor of
the Omaha Daily Journai-Stock-
man, who took trip through the
state in October. When he got
back home, he used a column and
a half singing its praises in prose
and in poetry. What he says
sLculd make us throw out our
chests a little farther. He said in
part:
'The dweller in warmer chimes
is apt to think of Minnesota as
state of extreme climates, but the
Minnesota citizen viii! tell you that
there is plenty of variety, and
variety in climate makes for
health, pep, and the vigor to do
things. There are plenty of stor-
les as to Minnesota's climate, for
example lie Sueur, an early ex-
plorer, reported that in 100 the
rivers of Minnesota We're frozen in
September. Carver says thai the
winter of 1766 was so warm that
he lived in the open wiolout dis
comfort. There are records of
Flowing being done in the month
of February and of snow blocking
trains in October. Acs:lal re-
cords show that since the settle
ruent of the state in the fifties, only
four dangerous tornadoe; and
three blockading SHOWS have oc-
curred.
eve had heard travellers tell of
Minnesota's road building system
and of the delights Of motoring
over Minnesota highways. They
had not exaggerated, we found fol
az mile after mile wa; run, each
stretch was simply and invitation
to step on the accelerator. Peau-
tiful is Minnesota IN October,
trees on every ha1i in autumn
colors, black fields showing the re-
cent work of the plowman and in
the fields of corn the steady bang
bang of ears against tie side
boards or the chug Of tractors
pulling mechanical corn nuskers
equipped with almost human fin
gers.
"What about Minnesota high
ways anyway? What system is in
use? During the past five years
this state has been making out
standing progress in good roads
development. Road betterments
during the period since 1921 have
eclipsed those of the previous fifty
years and the best Of it is they
have been accomplished without
burdensome taxation. There are
apI roxima'e!y 100000 miles of
Eublic roads, the most important
teing the state trunk highways
sometimes referred to as "Bab-
cock roads" These fo-m a 1000
vile network covering the entire
state and serving by one or more
routes, nearly all towns of more
than 1000 population. They carry
the big percentage ii motor-driven
and horse-drawn traffic in the
state, the other roads being to a
la1ge extent, feeders to trunk
routes. Highway aid in Minneso-
ia, both federal AIT state, is
BASED on the principles that states
and counties OF large taxable
wealth should give financial assis-
lance to states and counties of
smaller assessed valuations to in
sure more uniform and connected
improvements of interstate and
intercounty highways.
"We have spoken Of what are
called the 'Babcock roads The
name was derived fion. Commits
sioner Babcock, author of the good
roads plan. This plan called first
f. the designation O. g state sys-
ten of trunk or man highways.
Money to improve anG maintain
the main highways MS to be pro-
vided by taxes on motor vehicles,
the wheels using the roads. The
Plan was authorized highway bond
issues. When the NV highway
program went into effect in 1921
with Mr.. Babcock, Commissioner
Of highways, the first move was to
put. every lection of the 1000 lille
statewide system under patrol
maintenance. Things moved fast.
Within sixty days force of nearly
1000 patrolmen wer, each drag
glng and taking care Of five to
teven sections or beats
"Minnescsa's trunl. hi ,shway sys-
tenn of 1000 miles is large when
ere considers THAT Only three CT
four of the largest railroads of the
country, have larger miieages. One
could drive at the late Of go
miles a day for month without
covering all of the STATE .rurk
lines. An army Of nearly 1000
men cares for the highways. The
overhead il less than s per cent, in
other words nearly 3o per cent of