Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-26
SHOW EXPERT ROAD BUILDING
Minnesota Lxhioit teaches the New
Science on Roads.
JOHN H. MULlEus IN LECTURES
Man Ia charge 90 exhibits TELLS How
His state Provides Special Depart
ment for the care aud Construc-
ton of Highways.

mehA Aof the NhFe anu NohAtFuc-
tion of Highways.
Minnesota Is teaching her sister states
OF the west and northwest a valuable les
son In systematic road building through
the medium Of an extensive exhibit at the
Land Show. This exhibit in panoramic
miniature. is managed by the Minnesota
Highway commission, and was brought
here under the auspices Of the Omaha bee
and Twentieth Century Farmer to give
the western states a working example Of
what can be accomplished in the matter Of
| building roads and bridges
The exhibit, which is made on the bal
cony floor of the Auditorium, is IN charge
Of John H. Mullens. assistant state en-
gineer OF Minnesota. He gives a series Of
lectures every day at the Land show.
and has attracted so much attention that
an effort is now being made to keep the
exhibit at the Auditorium as a feature Of
the Nebraska Cement Users association
meeting next week. This exhibit is de-
signed to show the treatment Of sand
gumbo and macadam roads: in fact all
kinds Of road construction are demon
strated, going back even to the construc-
tion Of the Appian way.
George w. Cooley Secretary.
George w. Cooley is secretary OF the
Minnesota Highway commission and has
the title of state engineer His assistant
Is Mr.. Mullens. Mr.. Cooley is expected to
arrive at the Land Show Thursday and
his coming is awaited with great interest
Mr. Mullens. in explaining the workings Of
the highway commission and what is sx-
pected Of it in the future, says:
In Minnesota we have a highway com
mission Of three members appointed by
the governor, who employ an engineer as
their secretary known as the state engi-
neer. He is in charge of the administra-
ton Of the affairs OF the office of the
highway commission. The members Of the
highway commission receive no salary, but
there is an annual appropriation of about
$500 for carrying on the expenses OF the
office
"A state road fund is provided by tax
levy of one-twenteth of a mill on all tax
able property In the state. This was raised
this year to one-quarter of a mill. The
fund so provided must be expended on state
roads for permanent work only, under the
supervision Of the state engineer, and
governed by the rules and regulations of
the highway commission. the state paying
one-third of the cost of construction and
| the local authorities two-thirds. The egis-
lature Is now considering a bill to raise
the states portion to one-half
Duties OF state Engineer.
The duties OF the state engineer are
to see that all work done with the state
funds is Of a permanent character, and to
consult with and advise local authorities
on the most improved methods OF road and
! bridge construction. There has been such
a great demand for the services of the
engineer and assistant that the state legis-
lature contemplates making an appropria-
! ton of 100000 year to carry on the work
Of this department on a greater scale.
After having tried the highway commits
sion plan II has been demonstrated in Min
nesota that the best results and greatest
economy in road and bridge construction
are secured through expert supervision
and by having a direct line Of response
bility. The plan proposed to carry out this
idea is to have the state engineer employ
fifteen or twenty assistant engineers, in
GLIDING bridge experts. whose duty It shall
be TO consult with all county boards and
pass upon all contracts for road and bridge
construction. This fund would also pro-
vide for the employment Of a superinten-
dent Of highways in each county, whose
duty 10 would be to directly supervise the
road construction in his county. and have
charge OF the county road machinery and
the keeping Of county road records
Road OveFseer to Report.
1T is also proposed to have the town
road overseer make his reports and be &C
countablo TO the county superintendent for
the CHARACTER of his work. This would es-
tablish direct line OF responsibility from
the state engineer down to the laborer
on the road. and any incompetency or
neglect OF duty could be easily detected
and the cause removed. This system OF
course would be under the civil service
plan, men Leiny appointed to the various
positions on their merits Of qualification
only.
1T might be thought that this plan would
meet with great opposition from county
commissioners and boards of supervisors,
but on the contrary they are in favor OF
1t. II viii lift great burden from their
shoulders. for, as q rule. they are not ex-
perts in the line OF road building. 1t will
also do away with the personal element
which is 80 detrimental to good road build
ing. This can be explained by the common
practice of the commissioners letting con-
tracts to their friends in good faith. The
| friend has little bad luck and does not
do the work according to specifications
| but, being a good fellow, the commits
sioners. against their will and better judE-
ment, make payment for the work
whereas, IL they had an expert on whom
to throw the responsibility for acceptance
of the work this practice would not OBJ.
| tain. AS rule the county commissioner
want TO do what is right. but the compen.
! sation is so meagre that 1t does not pay
them to make study OF road problems
which Is so necessary to intelligent admins,
| tration.
Commission Experiments.
| ASIDE from advice and consultation on
road matters with the different counties
the highway commission has conducted
several experiments, the results of which
are being explained at the Land Show. The
highway commission has furnished TO dif.
ferent counties throughout the state OF
Minnesota a total Of 400 carloads OF crushed
stone in the last two years. free of charge
TO the counties, the railroad companies
hauling the material from the reformatory
at st. Cloud to the point where It is to be
used also free of charge"
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