The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-01-24
GOOD ROAD
LEGISLATION

Bismarck n. tD.y JAN. I-S
North Dakota has officially got aboard
the good roads band wagon every
apostle Of better highways through
out the country has his eyes focused
on this state. From the day that
Sem. E. A. Hughes of Bismarck in
troduced his bill in the state senate
providing for a commission to be
composed of the governor, state en-
gineer and one other member, to&be
| appointed by the governor, the daily
papers in the eastern states have
made editorial reference to the wide
| awake spirit shown by this state, and
some nave added that 1t is to be hop-
ID that other northwest states will
follow the example of North Dakota
in providing a system of bituminous
roads,
According to the eastern papers
there are thousands of motorists who
are only waiting for good roads. to
make a trip to this state. In the eyes
Of the New York state and Massachu-
sets people, North Dakota is looked
upon as having greater possibilities
than other states and they seem anx-
ious to make us a visit.
Bill In Congress Will Help. Bismarck.
Yesterday a bill was introduced in
congress of Rep. William Patterson
Borland of Missouri, calling for. the
L AA6 ONNAOA Va a Twill 0l vi
bituminous highways connecting the
capital of every state with the ma
tons capital. To start this work
and actually get the dirt flying the
first appropriation is for $40, 000, 900,
and after the various contracts have
been gotten under way bonds will be
issued to cover the entire expendi-
ture. .f' ... d.. ~. .~ .. ..S
The highways will be sixteen feet
wide and will be built under the SUI
pervision of the u S. army engineers.
The specifications, which are similar
to those Of New York and Massachu-
sets, will call for a well drained
foundation, upon which will be placed
various sizes of rock and crushed
stone. This stone will beJheld firmly
in place by natural lake asphalt,
which will be imported from the gov
eminent lakes in Venezuela and from
the island of Trinidad, British West
Indies. On account of the various
climates of the different states
erSe, a pure bitumen is necessary in
order to prevent deterioration or sur
face travelling" The top binder Of
the road will be two inches thick and
the foremost thought in mind will be
the permanency Of the construction.
The proposed cost will run from SIS
900 to $4,000 per. mile and 1t is fig
Il uI6u lldlr luG HldAl1lCHduGG COSL Will
be less than on the ordinary dirt or
gravel road of North Dakota.
The activity on the part of this
state, through the Hughes bill, will
probably be much appreciated blythe
government engineers who must seek
the cooperation of all state officials
particularly state engineers, in the
ultimate building of the comprehen-
sive system which is proposed.
1t is probable that the road will
come direct from st. Paul to Bis
marck, and will, it is believed, either
be a part of the local road which is
proposed to the Montana line, or at
least will parallel this road until the
turn is taken in the direction of
Pierre.
South Dakota is about to pass a.
highway bill and unless present eff
forts go for naught, a certain sum OF
money will be appropriated, through
a bond, issue, for the building of a.
sixteen-foot highway, similar to the
New York state bituminous roads,
from Sioux Falls, to Pierre.
According to those who have made
a study of road building, st is said
that North Dakota can prof. largely
by the mistakes which have been
made in the eastern states when state
roads We're first agitated and con-
structed there. Experiments, which
| pTONSu very COSllyp were MADE Win
blown oils and paraffines and other
man-made materials which were with
out ductility. When first completed,
the surfaces looked fine: but when
they were subjected to the heayytrav-
ell, caused principally by the motor
car and motor truck, they soon show
ed signs of deterioration, like CHEAP
city pavements, and eventually went
to pieces under the pounding and pull
ing of vehicles of all kinds. Then
| the maintenance charges became ex-
cessive and in some instances exceed
ed the original cost of the work. IA
serious situation confronted the en-
gineers. Experts were sent to RomeFto
study the famous Roman roads and
1.-THE construction of the eyer-famed
Appian way. The importation of the
natural bitumens from Europe was
out of the question, because of. heavy
duties. Later it vas discovered that
the pitch lakes of South America, par
ticularly those OF Venezuela, contain-
ed the true products for a permanent
and lasting road. An arrangement
was made to have this natural prod.
uct mixed with rock n stone to
place on roads and also in the con-
%struction Of boulevards and a
ments.
Senator Hughes should have the
support of ~veryone in The state in
furthering the interests of the people
In his plan OF highway work. The
various motor clubs in the east are
to cooperate with every state that is
going into the road building business
and lend assistance in the work in
more ways than one,
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Il ~ HEE ANLl 49, AE A-.