The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-15
COUNTY SURVEYORS NOT GETTING
SQUARE DEAL,..URGES STANDARD
Society of Engineers Hears Richland Official Plead For
Better Things-Legislati We Committee Submits a
Proposed Measure Providing a License
County surveyors r not getting a

County surveyors are not getting a
square deal at the hands of the county
commissioners of North Dakota, ac-
cordtng TO h viewpoint held by w.
A. Baker. county surveyor of Rich
Ian county. the principal speaker at
the morning session today of the
North Dakota Society of Engineers.
"A Short Flight of Steps" is the UNI
usual topic under which the speaker
voiced his ideas Of what the rights of
the surveyors are. n he did not
mince words in telling the members
of h association Just what steps he
believed should be taken in order to
place the profession on a more stable
basis in North Dakota.
The society's meeting is fairly we'll
attended. Engineers. surveyors and
architects are included in the MEM
bership. and mon of the several cdu-
c%ational institutions engaged In the
instruction of those several lines arc
also in the organization. This morn
ing a session was held at the new city
nall. and this afternoon the society is
IN session at the state university
where the concrete committee made
its report.
Several committees reported this
morning, not the least important of
these reports being that of the legis-
latiNe committee. which submitted a
draft of h proposed license law.
Baker Wants Standardization.
In his address, which followed the
welcome by Mayor Murphy and this
response by President Sam Crabbc of
Fargo. who presided Owe the session.
MT. Baker commended that the county
surveyor is entitled to a better day.
me county surveyor Is not influ-
entail enough. is not earning enough
money, and is not getting his just
dues under present conditions, he said.
The engineering society, he believed,
was the channel through which
changes should be sought.
County commissioners fail to mn
pioy the county surveyor in many in
stances in the matter Of planning
bridges He is compelled to buy all
ms WI tools. n in many counties
he must provide himself with station
cry.
County drain boards fail to employ
him in planning drainage bitches, and
the speaker believed the county sur
veNor was entitled to such work. In
the building of bridges and in the
building of roads. the surveyor is more
OFTEN times ignored than recognized
the work.
Standardizc Road Work.
Standardization of the road work
was urged. Make it necessary to have
roads all constructed according to
certain plans n specifications, and
better results will be obtained. Have
all culverts n bridges strong enough
to carry the heaviest tractor engines
That might be used. and have the
county surveyor do the wrok, was his
q of one feature of the road work.
Instead of having the work done by
some incompetent and Inexperienced
man, have 1t done by a man of the
profession who thoroughly under
stands the right and wrong of things.
The surveyors should, he said, be
protected from the competition of
those not qualified to do the work.
Adoption of measures by which uni
formity would be established through
out the state in the matter of section
lines. or. rather. the creation from a
common basis from which to work.
was urged.
l., He ais urged that a minimum day
be established. inc that a minimum
scale for the work be fixed also.
Use Meridian Road.
Concerning the Meridian road the
speaker took occasion to say that this
society could be of great benefit in the
matter by becoming Interested i'm the
work. urging the establishment of
uniform plans and specifications for
all OF the counties. He said the mat
ter could be taken up in such a way
that the commissioners would get to-
gether. probably in joint meeting, 80
o over the question. In that man.
ner the greatest good would be ac-
complished.
Concrete Tests Important.
The report of the concrete commit