The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-01-21

them; in other words. that the city
man and consumer, though he may
never travel outside his home city,
derives certain benefit from Inn
proved highways in the reduced prices
paid for his supplies, and consequent
ly should be and generally is willing
to bear his share of the burden.
1T IL estimated that In the case
OF your eastern neighbor, Minnesota,
fully forty-five per cent of all the
state and county taxes are paid on
property situated within the cities
and incorporated villages. In the case
Of the twin cities, Minneapolis and st.
Paul, fully ninety-flve per cent of the
taxes levied in Hennepin and Ramsey
counties are contributed by the people
of these municipalities and Of this
city tax paid. not one dollar is ex-
2ended within such corporate limits.
0zex all must be applied to outside
r. 70 k2nd is is just, for it is the fun
da.> principle of state aid, prop
"The al cafcstate aid contribute
ed in other L Noc. their road sys-
TENS varies. Ne Vexk.. and Minne-
sofa each pay on., I'D; Vermont,
New York, New Hampshire. Delaware,
Ohio, Washington, Virginia, each pay
half; Massachusetts and Pennsylvania
each pay seventy-flve per cent; Ver-
mont, California, New York, Rhode
Island, Colorado and New Mexico pay
the entire costs of certain roads.
Other states contribute free material
and in many cases convict labor, while
the state of Michigan has adopted the
plan of paying bonus of $3.50 to
81 900 per mile of improved gravel or
macadam roads.
Line Of Responsibility.
"The most satisfactory method of
conserving our road fund, as demon
strated In those states and counties
which have had the greatest expert
ence, is that method which contem-
plates line of responsibility from
the original appropriation to the final
payment, with such a concentration
of authority in appropriate boards or
individuals as will best protect the
public interest. An individual may be
bonded to secure the honest use of
public funds, while 1t would be diff
cult. perhaps, to sustain charge of
carelessness or neglect against a
group of individuals.
"The properly recognized authori-
ties in a county or town, should be
vested with the power to secure by
appointment, a competent person to
administer the road funds, and the
onerous duties of supervision be TAX
en- off them and placed on some per-
son paid to assume the burden. Such
appointments should be made on a
basis of qualification alone; for the
road system of such a state as this,
is no trifing factor in it's development,
| and needs the best endeavors of the
most competent men.
Appoint County Engineer.
"That plan which seems to present
the greatest advantage is the appoint
ment of a county engineer or superin-
tendent OF highways; appointed by
and acting under orders of the county
board; and one inspector in each
town, acting under tho orders of the
town board, the latter officer to be
authorized to call on the former for
advice, instruction or engineering
services, and the former authorized
to consult with the state highway
engineer to obtain such information
as he may from time to time require.
1T has been urged by some objec-
tors that such machinery may prove
too costly, that it would be difficult
to obtain qualified men, but expert
ence shows that the objection of in
creased cost does not exist to any
great extent, while the latter objec-
ton can only be construed as indi-
eating previous i'll advised selections.
When the occasion arises men can be
found, provided of course, that fair
remuneration is offered.
I'm many Of the larger colleges and
universities Of this country considera-
BILE attention is paid to the subject of
uniting with the ordinary courses of
study system of training in road
engineering and construction, so that
students who avail themselves of the
advantages offered by our educational
institutions may become versed in this
most practical science and be of ma
terial help to their state.
ut is the custom of the national
department of public roads to offer
positions to young t.1en as cadet en-
gineers and give them a course Of
training under practical road builders
in different portions of the country,
and with the assistance of our agricul-
tural colleges and universities.
'Not many years may pass before
we will be supplied with suitable and
sufficient material to conduct our road
affairs properly and economically. AS
sistance may also be rendered along
this line by establishing laboratories
for the chemica; and mechanical an
alysis of the various road materials
found IN your state, and the informa-
tion 80 disseminatedby lecturers and
publications among, the people.
Suitable Maintenance.
"It has often been said that the in
telligence of people may be meas
ured by the excellence of its highways.
We cannot subscribe to this principle;
the rapid growth of our country, es-
pecially of the great west and of this
state--the storehouse Of the world
during the past thirty years has de-