Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-01-17

ne pIOpucoy HldUe d lew years dSO
that within short time the expendi-
ture in the United States for the
construction and maintenance Of high
ways and bridges would amount to
81, 10000 per day. seems now to be
very near fulfillment. In 1904 the to-
| tai expenditure for the construction
and maintenance of roads and bridges
in the United States was $80,000,00
while for 1911 the expenditure will
approximate $15OO00,0OO. Or this
amount large part will be spent in
maintenance, but a larger sum will be
expended on new construction in 1912
than in any previous year.
The problem of better roads has
been partially solved by Minnesota.
The last legislature of this state ap-
| prOpriated an annual sum Of $150,0OO
for engineers and their expenses in
experimenting the construction Of
state roads. and for the purpose Of
state aid in the construction and i'm
provement of public highways there
will annually be levied on all taxable
property OF the state tax of one
fourth mill on each dollar Of valua-
ton, which will bring to this fund
s25O,OOO per year. The legislature
also passed bill providing for an
amendment to the constitution which
raises the limit of state road tax
which may designate any established
road. or specified portion thereof in
it's county as "a state road and con-
struct or improve the same in &C
cordance with the regulations Of the
highway commission. The state en-
gineer makes all necessary surveys,
establishes the grades, prepares plans
and specifications and superintends
all work on state roads and after the
! work is completed to his satisfaction
the state pays one-half the cost of
the roads, So that this state aid fund
is in addition to all other highway
taxes and cannot be used as an excuse
for lower highway tax in any of the
| counties or townships.
In our own state we have just COM
menced to think about good roads or
rather we have just commenced to
see that We can have very much bet
ter roads and have awakened to the
fact that our roads are very poor and
can be made much better with better
supervision over the construction and
maintenance. So long as We had a
meager population and but a small
proportion of our state broken and
farmed, and when fence was ra-
rity we used the prairie trail, and
want to say to you that it will be a
long time before We shall have our
present roads as good as the old prai.
rie trail. In some parts Of our west.
ern counties We still have portions OF
the old trails, but North Dakota has
gone ahead by leaps and bounds prac-
tically all our government land has
been homesteaded and much OF 1t
broken and the new conner objects to
having his fields cut up by trails, so
that now we find ourselves obliged to
cross the slough and go over the hill
when formerly we went around both,
and since We have commenced to
grade over the slough and cut through
the hill we have in the majority OF
cases made highways that are an
abonination and disgrace to the
state.
No machine is stronger than its
weakest part, likewise no road is bet
ter than its poorest piece, for If you
are going from your farm to market
with Il load of produce. you are only
going to take on az much load as your
team can haul over the poorest piece
OF road.
Annual Highway Tax.
We are levying an annual highway
tax in North Dakota Of approximately
$500 Some Of this money IS un.
doubtedly judiciously expended. while
by far a greater part. worked out un.
der the Anticipated statute labor sys-
tenn. has left our roads In worse shape
than If no attempt had been made to
expend the money levied for highway
taxes.
The problem of better roads for the
money expended en- them is one OF
the most vital problems of those which
We have to solve, and problem that
should be solved with as much haste
rs is consistent with good Judgment.
uc VI lulS
is in its infancy, and the energy and
perseverance which is characteristic
Of the citizens Of this great state is
going to bring things to pass within
the time OF the memory of us pres
ent. which look to lis now to be some
what visionary.
Farmers Are Apathetic.
The one great source OF hindrance
to the progress Of the good roads
movement and the enactment of bet
,er highway laws in our state is the
apathy and opposition of the afrmers.
We have so long been accustomed to
the use Of poor roads that it IS not
so much question of how We can
better the roads but how bad a road
We can get over in going to town. We
DO not realize that in many cases the
cost of maintenance Of the horses and
help and the wear and tear on our
horses. harness and wagons. made nee
,ssary ythe poor condition of the
'oads. would pay our annual grocery
bill.
The argument that the fellow who
is benefited by better roads is the au.
,omobilist is very weak. We have ap.
proXimately 1000 automobiles in the