The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-29
SYSTEM
IN ROAD MAKING
South Dakota Expert Would
do Away With Hit and
Miss System.

Minneapolis. Nov. 29.-W. H. Stokes
of Watertown. n OF the foremost
figures in the South Dakota good
apolis his scheme for highway legis-
lation in his home state. a plan which
will be discussed in detail at a confer
,nce soon to be held. when a tentative
bill embodying the desired features
will he drafted for presentation to the
next legislature.
Mr.. Stokes is one Of the busiest
men in South Dakota. when CONNER
cial enterprises are considered. but
he has found time in the past year
" TWO to study roads from New Eng
land to California and identify him
self with numerous road projects In
the Coyote state. He Is the head Of a
milling company in Watertown. owns
considerable business property and
farms approximately 5000 acres Of
rich South Dakota soil.
The plan with which Mr.. Stokes
now hopes to obtain good roads in
every county OF his state is simple and
involves but little change. The miller
would see the entire present road tax.
both the levy against every quarter
section of land and the poll tax. go
into the county treasury. He would
have the fund under the direct charge
of the county commissioners. who
would be advised regarding its advan-
tageous disposal by competent en-
sineers.
We want TO cut out this hit and
miss business in road working" said
~teristic head shakes. What is the
use of squandering money that could
be used to such praiseworthy ends?
II We succeed in putting through this
proposed change in the road fund sys-
TEN at the mex legislative session we
will have taken a big step along the
right path. The plan is as simple as
ii is brief. We aren't asking for any
big thing against which the voters or
the state in general would have an
opportunity to declaim.
The scheme would not involve the
creation OF new officers and the cleo
ton of additional officers. The coun-
" commissioners would be in direct
charge and they would be in a position
to act as the people OF the county as
IA whole. wished them to do. If l
wanted to have a certain we'll travelled
road put into better shape the pro-
cedure would be simple and effective.
All would have to do would be to
c%onvirce the people in the particular
community through which this road
passed. o. any representative men,
that the road needed repairs.
The commissioners would receive
a petition. or some similar word. re.
guarding the desired improvement.
They then could call on the county
and municipal engineers in the ter
ritory for advice. If these men. who
are supposed to be competent workers
for the interests of the public at large,
decided the request was we'll founded
there would be nothing TO prevent sat-
isfaction for all concerned.
Under this plan the old method
Of jumping about over a county
working roads in a ~haphazard fash.
ion would be done away with. Every
county road should have its ~laterals
70 a state road. The state roads
should be- laterals to great. national
please. Not until the all-important
problem of good roads is thoroughly
worked out on this plan of laterals
will 1t be satisfactorily solved in my
opinion.
South Dakota and the other states
are just waking up to the great pos
sibilities Of a complete good roads
system. but they still are rubbing their
eyes. The dash of cold water hasn't
had its full effect yet and until II does
the movement will not gain much
Roadway. Not even the most enthu-
siastic body Of good roads promoters
in any n city or town can accom-
plish the best results unless 1t has the
cooperation OF the smaller munich
palities in all directions within a radi-
us of 100 miles.
The residents of the surrounding
towns and contiguous territory in
turn should do their part Of the
work. BY no g the greatest part
OF the labor is the construction Of
the good road. The maintenance
problem Is the biggest one of all. That
is where the entire community is in
Holved. and right there is where we
men OF Watertown are having the
most trouble. We haven't quite sue
ceeded in waking the people around
us to the fact that they must do their
share. If this good roads movement
goes on to a successful climax.
Better Roads Urged for Social Needs.
The stupendous importance Of a
countrywide good roads movement
has not yet succeeded in making IT.
self known to the people at large. In
this great project are involved scores
of other important factors. Principal
among these is the question Of social
ization. The social center never will
reach Its highet margin OF value until
h good road has worked its way up
and down and across the length and
breadth Of the land. The district
schools never will get in their hest
work until they ave the assistance
given by good roads,"