Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-01-08
HIGHWAY OFFICE IS
NOW Is YEARS OLD

anniversary of the Minnesota Highway
department The members of the first
State Highway commission, created by
an act of the Legislature of 1905, were
appointed Jan. 4, 1906, by Governor
John A. Johnson. They were J. b.
Galarneault of Aitkin, Charles Hal
vorson of Dawson, and Gustave Scholle
of st. Paul. They held their first
meeting Jan. ~, 1906, at which time
they elected George w. Cooley of Min
neapolis as secretary and state en-
gineer.
These events marked the beginning
of systematic road Improvement in
Minnesota. Previous to that time, ali
road work had been left to the LOCAL
units. The Constitution adopted in
1858 provided that 1.-The state shall
never contract any debt for works of
internal improvements, or be party
to carrying on such works." This was
in line with the general practice in
all the states in the past century.
New Jersey in 1891 was the first
state to adopt policy of state
aid and supervision of road build
ing. Minnesota in 1898 amended
it's constitution to permit levying a
state tax of 1-20 mill for road aid,
to be expended under a state commits
sion. No legislation to put this in
effect, however, was adopted until
1905, but even at this late date Min
nesota was only the nineteenth state
to concern itself as a state about road
building.
The minutes of the first meeting of
the Minnesota Highway commission
show that after electing officers, "the
commission discussed the matter, and
ways and means of getting certain
data from the different counties per-
tanning to roads, road materials, and
road building in the respective coun-
ties of the state. On motion the COM
mission adjourned"
Six meetings of the commission
were held during the first year. At
the meeting March IL, the first re-
quest for approval of a state road was
presented, resolution from the Hou-
ston county board, designating the
bridge over the Root river near Hokah
"as a state bridge or road, for the
purpose of having the same rebuilt
or repaired" in accordance with the
provisions of the state road law.
At the same meeting a committee
from Mile Laos county appeared and
requested an appropriation for a road
from Milaca to Mile Laos lake. mo
formal action was taken pending a
survey of the road, and an application
in due form from the board of COM
missioners of that county," the min
utes state. 1.-The services of the state
engineer were rendered in advising
as to the location and construction
of said road"
At the meeting May 1, resolutions
designating state roads were presented
from Mile Laos and Todd counties.
The minutes also state that 1.-The Sec
Rotary suggested that much assistance
would be rendered the western part
of the state by building a short sec
ton of experimental road in the Red
River valley. On motion of commits
sioner Halvorson, the state engineer
was authorized to expend the sum of
$500 on such experimental work"
The experimental road was built
between Crookston and the state agri-
cultural school, one mile. Chemical
analysis of the gumbo soil was made.
The road was dragged, ditched, i'm
proved, and gravel applied Since
the experimental road was built many
favorable reports have been received
at this office as to it's value, when
compared with other portions of the
main road and lateral lines of travel
Mr.. Cooley's report said.
The 1906 report of the commission
shows that the state engineer held Al
good roads meetings during the year
in various parts of the state, in ad-
dition to a number of local meetings
to give advice and construction in
some specific case of road construc-
tion and repair.
Later appointments, to fill vacancies
on the commission were Timothy
O'Conner, Renville, March 4, 1909; C.
/. McNair, Cloquet, Sept. 6, 1909; Louis
w. Hill, st. Paul, Jan. &c, 1909; Chas.
M. Babcock, Elk River, Jan. 5, 1910;
F. s. Bell, Winona, Jan. 2, 1912; F. B..
Lynch, st. Paul, April 4, 1916. The
commission was replaced by one COM
missioner in 1917, and C. M. Babcock
appointed to the office, which he has
held since that time.
State aid was increased to Il mill
under a constitutional amendment
adopted in 1906, and the r. C. Dunn
amendment adopted in 1912 increased
it to one mill. The Dunn amendment
is still in effect, but since the adop-
ton Of the trunk highway plan in
1920, the. one mill state aid fund is
used on secondary roads.