The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-02-02


Plans will be made ior it by the state
engineer and it's construction shall be
under his supervision. Us
i. +
Now comes the important provision
in the bill by which ultimately it's
value must be weighed. By it the
highway commission is authorized to
appointsas many assistant engineers
throughout the state as they think
necessary. These engineers may be
assigned one or more counties. They
are required to make all surveys, esti-
mates, specifications, etc., for work to
be done on state roads, and sit shall
also be the duty of said assistant
engineers, upon the request of any
board of county commissioners or
any boardof town supervisors, to
advise and consult with them about
the construction or Improvement of
any road within their Jurisdiction, to
make plans and specifications for
them and to "lend every possible as
sistance to the local road authorities
in lettering the public highways"
Final payment shall not be made on
any contract for road work involving
an expenditure of upwards of 5000
until the district engineer has certi-
fed that the work has been properly
done according to contract. There is
a proviso, however, that a county
which has county superintendent of
highways shall not be subject to this
provision except as to state roads.
It may here be added that the assis-
tant engineers above referred to and
all other persons employed by the
highway commission "shall be ap-
pointed solely on their merits and
qualifications" and can only be re-
moved for cause or when their SER
vices are no longer required.
Whenever any county board shall
determine to improve or build a state
road it shall proceed as follows: If
the estimated cost is not more than
$500 all necessary surveys are to be
made by an assistant engineer, and
the work may either be done by con-
tract or by days work under the engi-
neer's supervision. If it is over $500
the plans must be submitted to the
highway commission, and the work
may be done by contract or day labor
under the supervision of the assistant
engineer who is at all times and in all
things subject to the rules and regula-
tons of the highway commission and
the instructions of the state engineer.
When any work is completed, in order
to get state aid, the county auditor
must report the particulars to the
highway commission. If the highway
commission finds the report salts
factory it certifes the same to the state
auditor, who shall then issue his war;
rant for the amount.
| !. + ).
In addition to his other duties the
state engineer is required to inspect
annually all bridges over thirty feet
in length and report to the commits
sion with such Recommendations as be
may deem advisable.
think it is quite safe to say that
there will be no further probing into
the affairs Of the state fair this year.
It appears to be the general opinion
that it would involve needless expense
and that no practical advantage
would result. The new board is
thoroughly alive to the necessity OF
adopting more business-]ike methods
and introducing other reforms where
experience has demonstrated that re.
forms are necessary. The secretary
is new man, satisfied with the salary
OF his office and determined to make
good. He has neither experience in
nor taste for the peculiar kind of poll.
tics which in the past has made the
fair board close corporation. He
realizes his responsibility to the
board and to the people, and will
court rather than avoid the co-opera-
tion of those associated with him in
the fairs management and invite the
aid OF the public examiner in devising
and carrying out practical system
OF accounting. Leading members OF
the legislature are inclined to help the
board at this time and to give it every
opportunity to carry out the reforms
to which it's members pledge them
selves.