The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-02-04
DISCUSS ROADS
AT C0NcLAvE
Elv Men Attend Conference OF
Good Roads Group Held
at Hfbbing Thursday.

Ely was represented aG Tie HicSIiiS
of the Northeastern Minnesota Good
Roads association at Hibbing by Joseph
Komatar. Alderman Alex Lobe, Ray
Hoefler, secretary of the Ely Com
mercial club, Commissioner Joseph
Veranth, and w. M. Somero, city en-
gineer, Thursday evening.
Delegates were present from every
community in the northeastern part OF
the state embraced in the association.
Also present were James Kelly OF St.
Paul, director of the state highway re-
search division; w T. RoSenwald, chief
of the maintenance department OF
state highways, representing N. w. Els
berg and E. W. Moeller, st. Paul,
managing director of the highway in
Situte.
The group went on record by resolu-
ton favoring the return of the license
fees or automobiles and trucks to the
former levels and for raising the state
gasoline tax one cent a gallon. 1t was
estimated that the additional gas tax
would bring in s1,5O0,000. The revenue
the past year brought the department
S7,9I3,032 and with the one cent gall
lon added would bring the total
revenue from this source over the nine
million mark.
Mr. Kelly, in addressing the group,
stated that the total revenue from the
highway department in 1886 was SIS
832 OCT He claimed that the depart
ment was faced with lack of enough
revenue to maintain building pro-
gram. He explained that several of
the roads which are proposed to be
resurfaced cannot be because they are
not classified as federal aid projects,
for which the state must match an
amount equal to the federal grant The
federal amount for such roads in the
state is S3,400,000. He also explained
that TOO miles of trunk highways are
designated as in the federal aid
system
To take care of roads in northeast
Minnesota for the federal aid appro-
priation, the association was of the
opinion that they should be classed as
secondary roads and subject to i'm
provements. A resolution to this effect
was passed at the meeting.
Mr.. Rosenwald released information
relative to road work in northeastern
Minnesota on the 1887 program He
represented Commissioner Elsberg at
the meeting. He stated that because
of the good condition of No. 2 be-
tween Grand Rapids and Duluth, nc
reSurfacing work is scheduled fol-
this road until a greater need fol-
such work is necessary" he said. He
stated that grading No. % between
Askov and Duluth would be started
Another project that will receive the
attention of the department is the 1e
miles between Temperance River anC
the Canadian boundary This will be
along the shores of Lake Superior.
Mr.. Moeller told the assemblage that
1t is absolutely vital that Minnesota
continue its road construction program
He was Of the impression that should
any let-up occur in work as mapped
and federal aid not be Forthcoming. the
highway work would receive a setback
hard to overcome.
The Ely delegation again brought UP
the matter of No. between here ano
Ilgen City on the north shore upon
which work must be done as soon as
possible to maintain its FEASIBILITY for
the tourist season A resolution was
passed to this effect. The resolution
also called for the completion of the
paving between Tower and Virginia at
the earliest possible moment.
1t was stated that the paving pro-
Ject Is on the program for this year
and next. Nothing was said in regard
to the paving between here and Tower
In one seasons work and the officials
representing the highway department
were unable to state anything definitely
regarding this proposition.
Leo Cashen, district maintenance en-
gineer, when asked regarding work or