Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-05-20

Slppl.
Highways.
Minnesota's record in the building
Of roads has been one Of achieve
ment. Seven thousand miles of trunk
highways are being improved and
maintained without creating any obli-
cations for posterity to discharge, and
without appropriating a dollar from
funds provided by the general tax
payer. During the present year, ITO
miles Of road will be paved, and mas
much as there will be no outstand-
ing, interest-bearing obligations rep
resenting the cost of paving, the en-
tire saving in road maintenance re-
sulting from the paving will be avail
able for further improvements. It is
a source of qualification that the adj
ministration of Minnesota's road fund
has at all times been above suspicion.
A great responsibility was placed in
the hands of one man, and that re-
sponsibility has mot been misplaced.
The last Legislature passed a law
imposing tax OIL gasoline, pursuant
to the constitutional amendment rati-
fed by the people at the last general
election. The Legislature at the
same session effected substantial
reduction in the tax on automobiles.
The gasoline tax, which is yielding
$4,543,000 per year, is being collected
at an average cost of only $289.00 per
month.
Law Enforcement.
AS Governor, l have not hesitated
to use the power of the State to Sc
cure full and impartial enforcement
Of law and the investigation of crime.
By executive order a commission was
created charged with the duty of
studying the problem of crime in Min
nesota and reporting it's findings to
the Legislature with recommendations
Of such legislation as may be neces-
sary and desirable to cope adequately
with the situation.
Conservation of Resources.
Through a consolidation of most
departments and boards which had
to do with the States natural re-
sources into a Department of Conser-
walton, there has been effected bet
ter coordination of the conservation
activities of tie State.
The reforestation of denuded forest
areas is one of the greatest needs Of
the people of Minnesota l would not
minimize the Importance and value
of such measures as regulation Of
cutting, artificial planting and the
setting aside of wooded areas into
forest reserves; but l would particu-
larly emphasize the imperative neces-
sity of controlling forest fires and Of
placing the taxation of cut-over lands
devoted in good faith to reforestation
on such basis as to compel the
owners of such lands to take effective
reforestation measures.
Closely related to the conservation
of forests is that of our game and
fish resources. Minnesota counts the
tourist business as a great asset, but
if tourists shall continue to come in
ever increasing numbers, we must
have something to offer them after
they get here. Replacement and pro-
lection of wild life are, therefore, very
important.
Another conservation problem Of
our State concerns itself with wiser
utilization Of iron ore. Since 1884,
when the first Minnesota ore left Two
Harbors, we have furnished to the
world more than 780,000,000 tons. It
is estimated that there remains in the
State merchantable tonnage of L..
300,O00,000 tons. 1t would thus appear
that nearly forty per cent of Mime
sofas high grade ore is gone. The
annual shipments during the past ten
years have aggregated 40,O00,O0O tons.
These figures bring us to the unwel
come conclusion that unless addition
al ore bodies are discovered or new
methods for more profitable beneficial
ton of low grade ores are devised,
the iron industry in Minnesota is due
to be short-lived. 1t is indicated that
there is no less than 30,000,000,000
tons of low grade ore in the State.
If this can all be benefciated and
marketed, we have reason to believe
that our mining industry will continue
indefinitely, making this one of the
richest if not the richest, of Ameri.
can commonwealth. 1t is, therefore,
imperative that the experiments that
are being conducted be continued un-
til the right method is found.
Minnesota is a State imperial in
domain, almost limitless in resources.
Her people number 100000; and
they are a blend of the best stocks
of the human family. To serve such
a State as Governor is high honor.
I owe much to the electorate of this
Commonwealth for the opportunity of
great aservice they have given me.
1 can partially discharge the obliga.
ton only by giving to my task the
best that is in me.
I conceive of the State as one; no
north, no south; no city; no county;
it's parts inseparable, its & al groups
interdependent, the interests Of its
people mutual"
MCKEE SAYS