The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-04-27
STATE ENGINEER STRONG FOR THE
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT SYSTEM
Results Obtained in One Years Trial Seem to Prove That
New Plan is Far Bet
ter That the Old.

proven to me. if there is opposition
to this system Of handling the high.
ways In n Of the counties who
adopted last year. the opposition can.
not honestly blame the system.
n state of Minnesota passed a
county superintendent highways law
In 1907 and under that law forty
county superintendents were appoint
cd out Of eight-five counties. but the
law was declared unconstitutional,
owing to h provision in the bill that
exempted the three big counties. In
their 1911 session of the legislature
the state passed a highway commits
sion law which appropriates $3.50. 900
annually for highway engineers to be
distributed over the state. Working
under that law, nov they have forty
district engineers, two division enei-
neers. six county superintendent.
and will this year increase the num-
per by five or more district engineers,
counties where they have no resident
engineers, and about twenty road
patrols. Each engineer has about
TWO counties under his charge and is
expected to devote his time equally
to them. The taxpayers of the state
are we'll satisfied with the plan and
the county and town boards are be.
ginning to work in harmony with tho
highway engineers.
Every state in the union that has
accomplished anything worth while
III good roads construction, has first
created administrative MACHINERY
Under which are highway engineera
n practical road builders. Further.
every state pretending to any prog,
ress in the building Of good roads,
whether granting state aid or not,
nave provided for an officer in the
county possessing certain specified
qualifications, whose duty it is to SUI
p%erintend the road work Of the coun.
ty. This man is generally a civil en-
gineer who has had experience In
road building or who possesses the
qualifications essential to the proper
discharge of his duties.
This engineer makes plans for
bridges and road improvements, ad-
vises about machinery and in general
assists the highway authorities Of the
county with their work.
Under the county official il the
township or district supervision. This
township or district supervision su.
perintends the work Of the local road
overseers and aids them with advice
and counsel.
At the present time more than one.
OF the states Of the union pro-
vide state aid for the construction
and maintenance Of roads. This aid
Is sometimes given to those counties
or townships which expend a like
amount. Some of the states require
that the petitioners for an improved
road pay a small percentage Of its
cost. To my knowledge there is not
a single state that has ever granted
state aid. and employed expert SUI
pervision over the construction and
maintenance of its highways that has
The constitution Of North Dakota
prohibits the granting of aid for
works of internal improvement, but
a concurrent resolution passed the
last legislature for an amendment to
the constitution which provides that
the state may appropriate money for
aid In the construction and improve
ment Of highways. This resolution
must come before the next legisla.
ture in 1913 and If concurred in by
that legislature will be submitted to
it CT mes by the vote Of the people,
laws making appropriations for this
purpose nay be enacted in the legis.
lature of 1915.
One great obstacle in the way of
better highway construction and
maintenance is the present ~antequat-
ed method Of working OUT the high
way taxes. To show you how the
sentiment in favor Of the payment of
all highway taxes in cash is growing
throughout the United States. I call
your attention to the fact that at the
present time nearly one-half OF the
states now require by law either that
all highway taxes be paid in cash or
give the counties or townships the
power to vote to order a money pay.
ment of all taxes. It is a significant
fact that those states who have made
the most progress in good road con-
struction have done away with stat
ute labor, and their experience con-
builder in the county contends. Nance
~. that statute labor is the great
obstacle in the pathway Of progress
in permanent highway Improvement.
The county superintendent of high
ways Law in North Dakota is not per-
feet, and 1t was not passed as orig
inally drawn and introduced but the
results obtained by the counties who
are working under 1t at the present
time. with only one years trial. seem
to prove that the system is far bet
ter than the old system and 1t Is fair
to presume that the longer we work
under this system the better the re-
suits will be. which fact has already
been proven by the many states who
are working under this system or
similar one.
The taxpayers of our state are Just
commencing to realize the importance
of better roads and all these argu.
ments over methods and means Of
best accomplishing what we most de-.
sire. namely, good roads," is edu-
cafional I therefore. tr,lst vOy will
give this letter publicity - =
Respectfully yours.
IT. r. Atkinson.
~. ..Ae- State. Engineer ;