The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-07-09
States Roads is
Babcock S Plan
Commissioners Program in
1921 Responsible for 1,423
Miles Paving Today


Miles Paving Today
When Governor Floyd B. Olson,
Farmer-Laborite, reappointed Charles
M. Babcock, state highway commits
sioner, Republican the other day
someone asked:
"Does a Farmer-Laborite appoint
Republicans ?"
The governor replied: 81 am ap-
pointing Good Roads Babcock, not
Republican Babcock.'
"Good Roads Babcock" is the term
his cronies use to refer to the COM
missioner. They know that he thinks
roads, talks roads, builds roads, and
certainly uses roads.
The constitutional amendment un-
der which his department operates,
adopted in 1920, is Familiarity known
as the "Babcock amendment" the
engineering characteristics followed
in Minnesota highway improvement
is Known as the "Babcock system"
while his program for paving is re-
ferred to as the "Babcock PLAN"
Every day he uses roads whose
building he has directed because he
has long ride to work. He contin-
ues to live at Elk River where he was
in the mercantile business before he
entered state service. Except during
the coolest portion of the winter he
makes the trip from home to office
daily.
Will be 60 in August
Mr.. Babcock who will be 60 years
old next August 10, was a good roads
enthusiast long before the days of
balloon tires, stream line bodies and
one man tops.
There were still plenty Of buggies
on the roads, and what roads they
were, when he heard drivers of the
new tangled automobiles Boosting of
having chit at least 80 miles an hour
going down the Old Smith HILL"
He heard SO many complaints
about roads when motorists came in
to Elk River stores to buy goggles
and linen busters that he decided
something should be done about it.
He began advocating road improve
ment. Soon he was a leader in the
movement.
The state had created a highway
commission Of three members. On
November 9, 1909, Mr.. Babcock was
appointed one of the members by
Governor Adolph O. Eberhart of
Mankato who few months before
, had become governor following the
death of John A. Johnson. =
This commission had limited funds.
Its work consisted largely of seek
ing coordination of road building by
counties and in supervising theouse
of a state road aid fund. But in his
travels in connection with his new
work, Mr.. Babcock came to realize a
need for more and better roads. He
noticed the rapid increase in the
number of motor vehicles. He vision
ed large future tourist business in
the state and the move towards a
change in the mode Of travel
Winning approval of the plan for
the Babcock amendment which Great
ed the state highway system and de-
signated the routes of each road, was
one of his hardest jobs. 1t assured
the department which was reduced to
one man commissionship, of funds
with which to work from the receipts
of automobile licenses. These funds
were augmented by gasoline taxes.
$50 Miles Paved in 1921
When the new plan went into
effect in 1921, there were $50 miles
of paved roads in Minnesota. These
had been largely constructed in the
previous two years following the
adoption of the state law authoriz-
ing counties to proceed with road
improvement and to issue bonds to
finance the development
Now the state has 1,434 miles of
paving in it's state highway system
with 436 miles of additionalt pave
ment being built this summer and
with plans for about the same amount
of construction tentatively drawn for
1882.
In addition, hundreds of miles of
roads have been graded, graveled and
oiled, numerous bridges constructed,
complete system Of road markings
set up, and scores of dangerous rail-
road grade crossing eliminated.