The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-11-23
ROADS AND BRIDGES
Letter Issued by Highway Commission
Advising That Steps be Taken
to Secure State Aid.
The Dunn Joint Resolution Which
Gives to Counties Their Just
Share of Appropriation.

An important circular letter has
just been issued by the state highway
commission the text of which is given
below.
It will be noticed that the highway
commission does not require counties
TO meet with an equal amount the
appropriation under the r. G. Dunn
joint resolution. This is as it should
be, for the counties that have already
received and expended their allotment
Of the 1907 appropriation we're not re-
CURED to expend an equal amount in
order to earn the appropriation. It
was on the suggestion of Mr.. Dunn
that Secretary Cooley made this
ruling.
Mile Laos county will get 81, 200,
under the joint resolution referred to-,
to expend wherever the county COM
missioners may designate, and the
county will not be required to put up
a dollar to meet it. OF course the
money will be expended under the i'm
mediate supervision. of the deputy
state engineer for the district, and the
work will be subject to his approval.
This appropriation of 81, 200 would
have been lost to the county had it
not been for the adoption of the joint
resolution in question:.
In addition to the Sd, 200 above re-
ferred to Mile Laos county, and all
the other counties mentioned in the
joint resolution, will be given an
equitable share of the state road and
bridge fund remaining after the
special appropriations are paid.
The Circular Letter.
To County Auditors and Boards OF
County Commissioners:
The highway commission will have
for allotment among the different
counties in March, 1912, approximate
~ 100000. Of this amount 800, 900
is to be distributed as provided for
in the joint resolution passed by the
legislature Of 1911, and the balance
will be allotted as provided for in
chapter 80, G.. L. 1911, which fund
will be available after August l, 1912,
and subject to payment for work done
after January l, 1912.
The amount allowed to any county
will be to some extent based on a
specific statement to be made by the
county board and submitted to the
highway commission before January
Is, 1912, showing where it is proposed
to use the money, for what purpose,
and in what amounts. Heretofore no
definite information has been SUBJ
mitted by county boards as to pro-
posed expenditures in advance of
letting contracts with the result that
the engineering department has not
been able to provide plans and speci-
6cations and estimates in time to
complete all the work during the cur
rent season, or to properly superin-
tend same. It is especially required
in the matter of new brid ges to be
built in 1912, that the report show the
nature or general character of the
proposed bridge, it's location, length
and approximate cost. It is i'm
pOrtant that this information be given
at an early date, so as to allow time
for the necessary examinations, sur.
veys, plans and specifications before
the working season opens, and to al
low also for letting early contracts.
Surveys for the proposed work will be
taken up in the order in which the re-
ports reach this Office, so far as pos.
sible, and money will be provided and
set aside from the county, allotment
for construction described in state.
nent by county board, and such
money must not be diverted to any
other road or bridge work without
the consent of the highway COM
mission; and if so diverted, the neces-
sary surveys will be delayed. The
above suggestions and requirements
refer to road work as we'll as bridges,
and apply to the expenditure of at
least Is per cent of the total allot.
ment.
It is the purpose of the highway
commission to reappoint a sufficient
number of assistant engineers to
properly care for all county road and
bridge work and to assign to each as
sistant at least two, or perhaps three
counties, to each of which he will be
instructed to devote an equal portion
OF his time, so far as circum stances
will permit or necessity requires.
The money provided by the joint
resolution aforesaid will be dis
tributed as therein required, and need
not be met by an equal appropriation
from the county funds, but the high
way commission will require state
ment showing the proper disposition