The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-12-04
AGITATION FOR
STATE HIGHWAY
COMMISSION

Bismarck, N. D., Nov. 4.-When the
the first. questions, to be preliminarily
discussed will be the matter of a state
appropriation for highway construc-
ton n the proposed forming Of a
state highway commission. North
Dakota SO far is without such a COM
mission, but there has been agitation
in that direction for some time mas
much as there Is a. demand for pass
able highways, not only from the apos-
ties of good roads, but from merchants
as well, and it is believed the matter
will be cordially received by the leg
islature.
Practically every state has a high
way commission and a chief engineer
whose duty 1t is to make technical
studies of road conditions and suggest
plans and specifications for actual road
work. Some states have a staff of en-
g%ineers. because there is no one branch
Of any state or municipal government
which has advanced SO much in the
last decade as that of road engineer
ing.
While North Dakota is backward in
the building of bituminous highways
there is a demand for them on the
part of the farmers and all others who
have occasion to use roads and this
demand will be brought to the atten-
ton Of the various state representa-
tives. Road travel is constantly in
creasing in North Dakota and the or
binary dirt highways do not fill the
present requirements of travel. It is
said that the money which is now be-
ing expended in the upkeep of dirt
roads is wasted; and hat a dirt road
no matter how much is spent in it's
maintenance.
Advocates of better roads will urge
that highways be constructed similar
to the eastern roads. This s~pecifca-
ton includes a rock foundation which
is held firmly in place with a binder
Of either Bermudez or Trinidad lake
asphalt. All of the eastern roads are
uniform in style and construction and
the cost maintenance on them is less
than on the ordinary road of North
Dakota. 1t Is claimed that it is false
economy to build cheap roads. The
surfaces, it is said, cannot withstand
the constant pounding and pulling of
the heavy traffic, caused principally by
the motor car and motor truck, not to
speak of the increased wagon tonnage
which has been noticeable in this state
for some time. Minnesota has been
experimenting with concrete roads for
some time and it has been found that
the material is without duCtility and
consequently cannot withstand the
changes Of climate. The winter cold
the concrete and eventually the
water and mud sink to the foundation
and undermine it. Then deterioration
starts and once this condition is ap-
parent the upkeep charges cost more
than If a good road had been built in
the first place. This state can profit
by the mistakes which the other states
have, made in road building. Studies
will probably be made of the eastern
roads and there is a likelihood that
certain portions Of the specifications
will be adopted. Local advocates of
good roads favor a s~ixteen-foot high
way.
While there is agitation for state
roads many cities in North Dakota
are now wrestling with the street paw
ing problem. Bismarck is or the verge
of doing some needed street paving,
as it is claimed that paving the streets
would be the best investment the city
could make at the present time.