The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-01-23
GOOD ROADS WORK
ATTRACTS many
North Dakota is Watched by
a Number of Other
S+,+.s

apostle Of better highways through
out the country has his eyes focused
on this state. From the day that Sem
ator z. A. Hughes of Bismarck intro
duced his bill in the state senate pro-
viding for: Il commission to be COM
posed of the governor. state engineer
and n other member. to be appoint
ed by the g%overn0rs the daily papers
In the eastern states have made edi-
spirit shown by this state, and some
have added that IT. Is to be hoped that
other northwest states will follow the
example of North Dakota in providing
a system of bitumfnous roads.
According to tho eastern papers
there are thousands. of motorists who
are only waitingttEor good roads to
makesa trip to this Estate. In the eyes
OF the New YoYksstate and Massa-
chusetts people, NQtth Dakota is look
ed upon as ha4ingl kIaeter: possibil!-
s sns;d than p o Sas,. 81 they seem seem
Bill in Congress wtl Help Bisinarck.
Yesterday a bill WAS introduced in
congress- by Representative William
Patterson Borland Of Missouri, calling
for the construction Of a national sys-
TEN of bituminous highways connect
ing the capital of every state with tho
nations capital. To start this work
and actually get the dirt flying the
first appropriation is for $4,000. 900
and after the various contracts have
been gotten under way bonds will be
issued to the entire expenditure.
The highways will be sixteen feet
wide. and will be built under the sup
ervision of the L. s.: army engineers.
The specifications. which are similar
IN fhoco of Nnyx. Nnrk anI Mo ol,,,
sets, will call for a well-drained
foundation, upon which will be placed
various sizes of rock and crushed
stone. This stone will be held firmly
in place by natural lake asphalt which
will be imported from the government
lakes in Venezuela and from the ISL
and of Trinidad. British West Indies.
On account. of the various climates of
the different states through which the
system will traverse, u pure bitumen
is necessary in order to prevent deter
ioration or surface travelling" The
top binder of the road will be two
in mind will be the permanency of the
construction. The proposed cost will
run from $4,000 to $4,000 per mile
and it is figured that the maintenance
cost will be less than On the ordinary
dirt or gravel road Of North Dakota.
North Dakota to Appropriate.
The activity on the part Of this
state. through the Hughes bill, will
probably be much appreciated by the
government engineers who must seek
the cooperation Of all state officials,
particularly state engineers. in the ul-
innate building of the comprehensive
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 tho direction of
Pierre.
South Dakota is about to pass a
highway bill and unless present ef-
forts go for naught, a certain sum of
money will be appropriated, through
a bond issue, for the building of a
s~lxteen-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. it is said
that North Dakota al profit largely
by the mistakes which have been
made In the eastern states when state
roads were first agitated and con-
structed there. Experiments which
proved very costly, were made with
blown oils and parahnes and other
man-made materials which were with,
out ductility. When first completed.
the surfaces looked fine. hut when
they were subjected to the heavy
travel, caused principally by the mo-
tor car n motor truck. they soon
showed signs of deterioration, like
cheap city pavements. and eventually
went to pieces under the pounding
n pulling of vehicles OF all kinds.
Then h maintenance charges became
excessive and in some Instances ex-
ceeded the original cost Of the work.
A serious situation confronted the on.
gtneers. Experts were sent to Rome
tostudy the famous Roman roads and
the construction Of the ever-famed
Appian Way. Tho importation of the
natural bitumcns from Europe wa
put of the question. because Of heavy
duties. Later is was discovered that
the pitch lakes Of South America, a
ticularly those Of Venezuela, contain.
ed the true products for q permanent
n lasting road. An arrangement
wa made to have this natural pro-
duct. mixed with rock and stone to
place on roads and also in the con.
struction of ~boulevards and pave.
ments.
When New York reforms it's police
force. and Wal street what incentive
VIII tnere be Tor going there?