The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-02-24
COUNTY CLUB
GROUP ACTS
Legislative Committee of St.
Louis County Club Writes
Highway Commissioner.

The Legislative Committee of the st.
Louis County Club and Farm Bureau
composed of Geo. A Perham and Fred
Vihert of Duluth; Conrad Johnson of
Meadowlands; Peter Schaefer of Ely;
Adolph Solem of Lakewood; II. F. Olson
of Tower, and VIM. F. Haenke of Gill
bert, met In Duluth last week and acted
on matters referred to the committee by
the sessions of the club in December
Two letters were addressed TO N. w.
ElSberg, state highway commissioner,
relating TO the resolution adopted re-
garding the acquisition of timber areas
along the highways to improve scenic
such as camping grounds. The letter
on this follows:
While aware of the present un-
certainty on highway funds the COM
mittee believes there is considerable
amount OF preliminary study which
might be given to the roadside improve
ment idea which would be the basis for
future action. It is apparent that the
Highway Department is best fitted to
handle this relatively new idea and
eventually TO bring about the desired
result which fits in with the vision of
beautiful, restful, and useful public
domain.
ITO get the matter under considera-
ton we would suggest that a tentative
program be developed along the follow
ing lines:
What authority has the commission to
provide parking spaces and safety
zones?
Could this authority, if existent, be
construed to include forested spots and
strips, with desirable landscaping in
the way of turn-in passageways for
cars, and areas for permanent fire
places?
Is there any distinct personnel in the
department charged with studying and
reporting on such accessory utilities In
connection with state highways?
Has any survey been made to record
suitable places for the improvements
outlined?
What legislation would be necessary
to permit the Initiation of this pro-
gram?
Another letter relating to the ex-
tension of the state system to include
the Steel to Wheat Highway was sent
Mr.. Elsberg. The letter on this sub
ject reads:
at is generally agreed that the State
Highway system has now been developed
70 the point where in the early future,
it may be declared that 1870 of the
total number of miles of the routes
embraced in the original act have been
permanently improved and there Is now
a committee OF the legislature author
lied TO consider whether or not such
1870 of permanent improvement has
actually been made.
Obviously the time is not far distant
when the legislature will have authority
to add new routes to the trunk highway
system.
In this connection We wish to draw
your attention to the request of the St
Louis County Club and Farm Bureau
Federation that an east and west road
across the northern part of the state
known as the Steel to Wheat Highway
be taken over by your department as
one of the trunk highways.
The route IN question, as you un-
doubtedly know, extends from Grand
Marais through Ely, Tower, Cook, il
st. Louis County, through Togo and
Efie in Itasea County, Northone in
Koochiching, and through points far
ther west to Red Lake Falls and te
East Grand Forks.
This project is a popular one in the
northern part of the state as it woulc
connect up numerous thriving commune
ties, thereby promoting trade and socia
intercourse in a beneficial way, ane
would open a tourist route of greai
Importance to the entire area. Thu
tourist traffic from North Dakota and
farther west would in this road FIND
a direct route to the lake region of tbs
northern border.
1T is our desire that you list thi:
highway as one OF the first 10 be addet
to the trunk system when it become:
in order for you to make recommends
tons for additional routes.
$50 that this committee may maxi
proper report to the officers of th'
County Club, win you kindly favor witt
reply as to the possibility of action II
sfais regard"
| GEO. A. PERHAM,
Secretary.