Askov American., 1933-07-27
CITIES PROTEST
ROAD AID PLAN
Minneapolis, st. Paul and
Duluth Want Too Much
of Federal Funds.
Would Hold up Whole Pro-
gram Unless Wishes
are Granted.

are Granted.
Wanting more than a third of the
$4,000, 900 of Federal highway funds
available to Minnesota for highway
construction, the three largest cities,
Minneapolis, st. Paul and Duluth, are
threatening to hold up the entire pro-
gram if it is refused them. N. w.
Elsberg, state highway commissioner,
is standing pat" on his plan to dis
tribute the money more equally in all
parts of the state and he has told
them plainly that he will allot them
100000 for immediate work and
will give them more assistance next
year, but that he will not take the
money allotted to the smaller COM
munities and rural districts and turn
it over to them.
This statement brought a 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 Washing
ton officials and to Governor Olson,
demanding that this amount of
money, approximately $3,700,000, be
set aside for the three big cities. This
would mean $2,2OO,OOO less for the
remainder of the state than would be
received under Elsberg's plan.
Aroused by this action, the State
Association of County Commissioners
and the Minnesota Good Roads Asso-
citation by j. A. Mclean and James
C. Kelly respectively, sent the follow
ing telegram to Washington:
"Hon. H. c. Wallace,
U. S. Secretary of Agriculture
Washington, D. C.
I'VE believe it would be extremely
unfortunate if any local differences
of opinion over ALLEGATION of Mime
sofas allotment of national recovery
highway funds are permitted to delay
approval Of general program as sub
mitted to Department of Agriculture.
This state as whole wishes work to
be started as quickly as possible.
Any local disagreements can be
settled later. Minnesota has very
short construction season and any de-
lay now will greatly lessen effective
ness of highway program in relieving
unemployment. We sincerely request
earliest possible approval of prelim-
mary statement of ALLEGATION as SUBJ
mitted."
Commissioner Elsberg, explaining
! his allotment of the funds, made this
statement.
Our ALLEGATION of the $10,OO0,00C
Federal aid fund was made in ac-
cordance with the principles and
regulations laid down by the Federal
government.
Briefly, these regulations require
the Highway department to divide the
money among at least rs per cent ol
Minnesota's 81 counties. They follow
the principal that large number ol
small projects in all parts of the state
are desired, rather than the centrali
cation of large expenditures in few
centers.
Careful consideration was giver
to the unemployment problem. st
Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth have
serious difficulties but they are no
the only places in Minnesota with
serious unemployment. All over the
state the smaller cities and villages
and the counties have urgent prob
lens of local relief. Furthermore, the
larger cities receive Federal fund.
from other sources than this.
"The highway department mus
look at the situation from statewide
viewpoint. We have the creates
sympathy for the difficulties of the
three largest cities, and wish to hell
them as much as possible.
I'VE believe that the $1,50O,0O,
which has been allotted to them is ap
proximately all the money they cal
efficiently spend this year on streets
eligible to receive this Federal aid
Next year we hope to be able to Civ,
them additional assistance from state
funds which are not available thi
year or from any increase in tht
Federal allotment to the State.
IF the three cities can show u.
that they really need $3,5OO,O0O fo
proper use on state trunk routes il
their limits, we will try to give then
a large part of it, if not all. Let then
take the $1,5OO,00O now and get worl
started without more delay. Ther
show us the necessity and we will
give them more help next year. 1
the cities are sincerely interested il
getting men to work at the earlies
moment. they will stop fighting ant
cooperate"