The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-01-09
SPEEDING PAVING
PROGRAM IS URGED
ROAD NEEDS AND FINANCING
PLANS DISCUSSED IN COAIAIIS-
SIONER'S BIENNIAL REPORT
EARLY ACTION ON FUNDS
NEEDED.

Speeding up the paving program Is
strongly urged in the biennial report
of c. NJ Babcock, commissioner Of
highways, who this week made public
the chapter ON legislative recommends
tons, in advance of publication Of the
complete report. Insisting upon no
particular plan for providing the neces-
sary funds, Mr.. Babcock suggests the
bond plan and an increase IN the gas
tax as two more feasible methods OF
providing revenue, but points out that
if relief of unemployment IS TO be
taken into account, the bond plan is
the only way in which funds can be
made Immediately available.
In the report Mr.. Babcock reviews
briefly the work done in the ten years
in which the trunk highway plan has
been in effect. Out Of the 1000 miles
taken over in 1921, he says. only 1S3
miles were paved, 1859 miles graded
and 2,776 miles graveled, very little OF
this to modern standards. There are
now l,434 miles paved. 1,15l miles hi
luminous gravel, 1895 miles graded and
graveled, 80 miles graded and unSur-
faced, 2,119 miles graveled, sub-stand-
ard grade, and 200 miles unSurfaced
and sub-standard-
AT the start, Mr. Babcock says, It was
more essential to undertake a program
of maintenance, crawling and grading
in order to give all parts Of the state
some form of connected and paSsable
roads, than TO start any large paving
program. In the future it VIII be pos
sible to devote larger share Of the
funds to paving, and so far definite
plans have been made for 247 miles Of
concrete to be built in 1881. But at
this rate it will take twenty-five years
to complete the paving Of the present
trunk routes. If this could be doubled
for the next two years, it would take
care of the most urgent needs.
Motor vehicle registration IN 1890 is
129 per cent greater than in 1921, the
report points out, while gasoline con-
sumption, the best index Of actual
traffic, is nearly three times as great
Truck registration is more than four
times as great in 1880 as II 1921.
Trucks create special traffic problem.
due to their greater weight and the
fact that they want to use the high
ways the year around, regardless Of
weather. Yet trucks are nearly all en-
gagged in essential business, many OF
them carrying farm products TO mar
ket, and they have as much right 70
an adequate road as any other vehicle.
Pointing out that increases IN the
license tax and the gas tax, or the
authorization of bonds are the only
methods open to the legislature 70
provide more trunk highway funds. Mr.
Babcock suggests that uniformity N
motor vehicle taxes is desirable. In
Guiding personal property taxes which
are still levied on autos IN "a states,
all but one or two states now collect
Minnesota does. The license fee IN
Minnesota is near the average rate, and
these fees are not likely to be changed
in many states. Minnesota's gas tax
is a half cent under the average, and
number of states viii probably in
crease the rate this winter. IF il Is
increased to four cents, Minnesota viii
probably still be under the average.
The unemployment situation IS an
additional reason why highway con-
struction should be speeded up and
why proposed work should be got under
way at. the earliest possible date" says
Mr. Babcock While unemployment
should not be made an excuse for
doing any work which is not otherwise
justified, period of unemployment is
an opportune time to do needed high
way construction, as well as other
necessary public works. The state viii
receive full value for its expenditures
and the work will not only provide
employment for hundreds of men d.
for many others who viii furnish
materials and equipment, and to others
who viii be indirectly benefited by the
employment of these men"
The only way in which any substan-
tial increase in trunk highway funds
can be made Immediately available is
through a bond issue, Mr.. Babcock
adds and he urges that it be given con-
sideration early in the session II VIII
take several weeks after such bill
passes before contracts can be let and
actual work started If such bill is
approved early in the session he says
it would be possible to prepare plans
and let contracts so that work could
start as soon as weather permits in
the spring, but if final action IS not
taken until April, it would be after
midsummer before the additional work
would give any men new jobs.
A combination of the bond plan and
gas tax is suggested, but this does not
require that they be considered at the
same time, the report says. The bond
issue might be acted on early in the
session. II it is adopted, an increase
IN the gas tax might be considered as
a means of Fastening the retirement Of
the bonds, while if the bond plan does
not pass, the gas tax might be used TO
provide additional funds for construc-
ton. The gas tax alone, however, viii
not provide any unemployment relief,
Mr.. Babcock adds. A one cent in
crease would provide So 900 addi-
tional income per year, of which two
thirds would go into the trunk high
way fund The increase would not be