Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-02-13
Road Report Issued
(Continued from PAGE u

ment. In 1913, the Dunn one mill
tax Estate aid) bill was passed and
was considered the most embracing
in road history. In 1915 Congress
passed the first Federal Aid bill, ap-
propriating $75,OOO,0OO for highways
to be allotted among the state over
five-year period. Minnesota's share
in 1917 was $142,394. That year the
Minnesota Highway Commission was
abolished and Charles M. Babcock
was appointed commissioner.
The Automobile Era.
In 1920 the state trunk highway
amendment was ratified creating
$3.50 miles of state highways and
authorizing bond issue of $4,000
600 and refunding county road bonds.
From 1920 on, it was race to keep
up road building with the increase
in motor travel. In 1924 motor We
hicle registration was 507, 1892. In
1910 they were 963 $50. Other events
are as follows:
1925-First state excise gas tax at
&c gallon.
1928-Amendment ratified to allot
1/3 net gas tax revenue to counties
for local road use.
1929-Gas tax increased to Sc per
gallon.
1933-4,574 miles added to state
highway system. The same year mo-
tor vehicle registration license fees
reduced by about so per cent.
1935-Last bond issue authorized
by legislature.
1937-Gas tax raised to &c. Pro-
vision passed to permit counties to
share gas tax receipts SO per cent
with townships.
1938-Northwest Good Roads AS
ISOLATION formed.
| 1939-Gas tax reduced to Sc per
gallon effective September l, 1910.
Legislature passed law which levies
five per cent on gross highway re-
ceipts for state administration fund.
M. J. Hoffman succeeded N. w. Els
berg as Highway Commissioner.
Investment i'm Roads.
| The state trunk system covers
1929 miles of which 7,10O are also
U. S. trunk roads. There are &c.
544.74 miles county aid or gas tax
roads, 14,987.46 state aid or one mill
tax roads. There are 66,322.44 miles
township roads which are supported
by local real estate tax and in some
counties by one-half the county's
share of the gas tax.
The state has assumed (including
$250,000 Pine county reimbursement
bonds) the payment of $74,932, 436.24
principal, plus $29,812, 265.1O inter-
est. Most of the bonds were acquired
at the beginning of the road build
ing period from 1920 to 1882 and are
being paid off at the rate of $2,750,-
900 annually, plus S1,250,000 interest
annually.
Financing Roads.
Methods of financing the county
road system are as follows:
General property levy not exceed
ing 10 mills.
State one mill levy dunn law.
Each county received not less than
one and not more than three per cent
of state total.
One-third of state gas tax receipts.
Each county receives not less than
"a of one per cent nor more than
three per cent.
Federal grants.
Bonds.
For financing the township road
system there may be a general levy
on real and personal property or the
county's voluntary contribution of
gas tax allotments up to so per cent
Rates in United States.
The nations average state gas tax
is 44c or $26.84 per vehicle. The
Minnesota state tax is Sc or $21O7
per vehicle.
Thirty-seven states now have a
tax of &c or more and 10 states, in
Guiding Minnesota, have a Sc tax,
six of these have retail sales taxes,
wheelage taxes or other sources of
collecting revenue not used in Min
nesota.
Minnesota is 41st in per vehicle
traffic tax. A few comparisons are
given:
Florida, combined gas tax and mo-
tor vehicle tax, $7O.59; the Wiscon-
sin figure is $39.63; Michigan, $3.50;
Iowa, $34.78 and Minnesota, $34.17.
Only seven states have a lower per
| vehicle traffic tax.
Several Important Facts.
This brief review Of the develop
ment of the road system should bring
to our attention several important
facts.
The motor vehicle has been an
important force in highway progress.
Highway income has been shrink
ing in the fact of increased mileage
and use.
Seventy per cent of motor vehicles
are in rural districts.
The Dunn Zone mill) tax and gas
tax have served the rural counties
fairly.
Minnesota average motor vehicle
tax is 41st low in the nation.