The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1933-07-27

told them plainly that he will al
lot them $1,500,0O0 for immediate
work and will give them more as
sistance next year, but that he will
not take money allotted to the
smaller communities and rural dis
tricts and turn it over to the three
big cities.
This statement brought threat
that the cities would hold up the
entire state program If possible in
order to get a guarantee that they
will be given at least 35 per cent
of Minnesota's total allotment.
Protests were Immediately made to
Washington officials and to Cover
nor Olson, demanding that this
amount of money, approximately
$3,700,00O, be set aside for the three
big cities. This. would mean ST.
200, 1000 less for the remainder of the
state than would be received under
Elsberg's plan.
Aroused by this action, the State
Association of County Commission
ers and the Minnesota Good Roads
Association sent the following tele-
gram to Washington:
Hon III. c. Wallece,
U. S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Washington, D. c.
We believe it would be ex-
tremely unfortunate if any To-
cal differences of opinion over
ALLEGATION of. Minnesota's allot-
ment If national recovery high
way funds are permitted to de-
lay approval of general program
as submitted to Department of
Agriculture. This state as
whole wishes work to be start
ed as quickly as possible. Any
local disagreements can be set
tied later. Minnesota has very
short construction season and
any delay now will greatly les
sen effectiveness of highway
program in relieving unemploy-
ment. We sincerely request
early possible approval of pre-
liminary statement of alloca-
ton as submitted.
Minnesota Good Roads Assn.
James c. Kelly, secretary,
State Association Of County
Commissioners Of Minnesota,
J.. A. Mclean, Secretary.
Commissioner Elsberg, explaining
his allotment of the funds, made
this statement.
"Our ALLEGATION of the $4,000, 900
Federal aid fund was made. in &C
cordance with the principles and
regulations laid down by the Fed
eral government.
. Briefly, these regulations re-
quire the Highway department to
divide the money among at least
Is per cent of Minnesota's 81 coun-
ties. They follow the principle that
a large number of small projects in
all parts Of the state are desired,
rather than the GENERALIZATION Of
large expenditures in few centers.
Careful consideration was given
to the unemployment problem. st.
Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth have
serious difficulties but they are not
the only places in Minnesota with
serious unemployment. All over.
the state the smaller cities and
villages and the counties have ur-
gent problems of local relief. Fur
thermore, the larger cities receive
Federal funds from other sources
than this.
"The highway department must
look at the situation from state
wide viewpoint. We have the
greatest sympathy for the Difficult
ties of the three largest cities, and
wish to help them as much as pos
sible.
1--WE believe that the $1,5OO,0 900
which has been allotted to them is
approximately all the money they
can efficiently spend this year on
streets eligible to receive this Fed
eral aid. Next year we hope to be
able to give them additional assis-
lance from state funds which are
not available this year or from any
increase in the Federal allotment to
the State.
eff the three cities can show us
that they really need $3,5O0,OOO for
proper use on state trunk routes in
their limits, we will try to give them
a large part of it if not all. Let
them take the $1,5O0,O00 now and
get work started without more de-
lay. Then show us the necessity
and we will give them more help
next year. If the cities are sincere
ly interested in getting men to work