Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-10-12
ROAD BUILDING TO.
USE DAY-LABOR
State Will Spend 100000 In Giving
1000 Men Employment On Sec.
Ondary Roads.
BY H, G.. TEIGAN

L
The Minnesota Highway Depart
ment this week began a $2.0O0,000
road construction program under the
''day-labor" system. This work will
be done on secondary roads.
This road program which will be
done directly by the State Highway
Department will require approx
There will, of course, be about the
same number of men employed in
directly, thus giving employment to
approximately 1000 men.
1t must be apparent by this time
to those persons who are DESTROYS Of
seeing work done in the state that
the contract system in building roads
| is not practical one. 1t not merely
is more expensive and operates to the
detriment of the taxpayers, but is Of
equal disadvantage to those who are
seeking work.
Day Labor Favored.
Had the State Highway Department
been permitted to undertake all of the
road work by "force-account" or day.
labor plan, as it is usually termed,
it is safe to state that fully $5,O00,O00
worth of work would have been done
| by this time. Due to the complicated
method necessitated by the contract
system, only 100000 worth of work
has been undertaken thus far and yet
that places Minnesota second among
the states in road work accomplished
under the Federal Aid Scheme this
year.
1t must, however, be realized that
the Federal Governments red tape
and the contract system are not en-
tirely to blame for the lack of road
work done in this state during the
present year. 1t is we'll for the peo-
pie of the state to keep in mind that
Minnesotas contribution, as it were,
to the road construction program lies
entirely in the amount collected by
the Federal Government in gas taxes.
| Approximately one-half of the $10,-
100000 allotted to Minnesota by the
| United States Government has been
or will be paid by motorists of the
state through the LIS cents gas tax
collected at Washington.
Legislature at Fault.
The point is that the reduction in
the license fees by the 1888 Legisla-
ture deprived the Highway Depart
ment of money for use in construction
work. In view of the fact that every
community in the state has demanded
road construction work and has sent
committees to interview Governor Oh
| son and Commiss Toner N. w. ElSberg
about the matter, it is only proper to
impress upon the people of the state
that the failure to build the roads
needed is due in no small measure
to the Legislatures action in depriv-
ing the State Highway Department
of necessary funds to carry on the
work.
Loss of $4,OOO,OOO.
The reduction in license fees caused
the loss of $4,O00,O00 to the Highway
| Department. This meant a direct
drop in employment of nearly 5000
men affected directly and Indirectly
by the loss in highway revenue.
Those communities of Minnesota
that have been making demands upon
Commissioner Elsberg and the Gov
ernor for road building should place
the blame where it properly belongs.
Let them examine the record of their
| Legislators in reference to support
of the Highway Department in pro-
viding revenue for the years of 1888
and 1884.
Anyway, Minnesota people have
reason to congratulate themselves on
the accomplishments of the State
| Highway Departments use of Federal
funds this year notwithstanding the
Federal red tape involved. According
to official figures Minnesota ranks No.
2 in getting work under way under
the Federal Act And that is doing
pretty we'll.