The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1928-11-29
MINNESOTA LACS in
HIGHWAY BUILDING
Increased Gas Tax and Bond
Issue Necessary to Keep
Pace With Other States
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING
Representatives of Sixth Dis
trict Back Commissioner
BabcOck's Program

Monday evening $50 of the good
roads enthusiasts met at st. Cloud
to discuss the state highway stu
alton as it effects the entire state.
Alvah Eastman, editor of the
Journal Press, called the meeting
to order in the District Court room
promptly at 1880 p. m. Represent
atives were present from every
county in the Sixth congressional
district.
Earl Cross, and Senator ]. D.
itSullivan dilated upon the beauties
and future of st. Cloud after
which the meeting proceeded to
transact the business for which
the meeting was assembled.
Highway Commissioner Charles
Babcock was present and gave the
principal address of the evening.
The Commissioner discussed the
gas tax, naturally, calling atten-
ton to the fact that Iowa and Wis
consin were collecting a, tax of 8
cents and South Dakota 4 cents. In
all cases the tax was converted into
the state highway fund.
Mr.. Babcock stated that the
Highway Department hadn't taken
an active part in the campaign for
the constitutional amendment to
divert one third of the money re-
ceived from the gas tax for the use
of county highways, but because of
the passage of this bill the would
recommend a Accent tax to the
incoming legislature.
Mr.. Babcock favors an issuance
of a $20,000,000 bond issue for
the construction of state high
ways. Under the law not more
than $40, 100000 in bonds can be
issued in any one year. These
bonds will be paid out of the taxes
on automobiles. @--
The average citizen of Mime
sofa is of the opinion that great
progress has been made in road
q making. That is quite true.
In the last two years almost ev-
cry county in Iowa has issued
bonds from $75O,O00 to $1,000
900 for highway development and
at the recent election 100000
900 was voted to rush the state
wide completion of hard surfaced
roads in the Hawkeye state. When
one compares what Minnesota has
done with other states it will be
found that the North Star state is
tagging behind, in spite of the fact
that Minnesota is generally recog-
nized as the summer playground
! of the United States.
In his address Mr.. Babcock
called attention to the fact that the
statewide taxes for road develop
ment had been reduced $4,000, 900
annually since the Minnesota High
way department as at present con-
stituted became operative.
In the past fiscal year approx
mately $18,000,00o has come into
the Minnesota Highway depart
ment from all sources-automo-
bile license, gas tax and Federal
laid. Of this sum it has taken
I So, 100000 to set aside a sinking
fund to care for the outstanding
county bond issues for which the
Highway department was respon-
sible.
Thirty-five states have a higher
gas tax than Minnesota. A reso-
luton was unanimously pessed in
dorsing Mr.. Babcock's plan for a
Accent gas tax and bond issue Of
| $20,000,000. Of course the mat
/ ter rests entirely in the hands of
the legislature.
| Representative Moser, of this
district, attended the meeting, and
the Herald is gratified to report
that the gentleman went on rec
ord as favoring both the increased
gas tax and the $20,000,000 bond
issue. ,