Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-06-17
Roht. M. IMcCahe

sN~Oss w VSS~SS
Washington, June l6.-Every goot
and progressive citizen in every state
and territory Is in favor OF gooC
roads, and the folks in North Dakota
are not a whit behind their fellow
c0untrymen in every section in tina
respect. Whilst everybody wants
them, and many states appear to be
quite willing to pay their pro rata
share of constructing them, the ques'
ton naturally arises in the minds OF
f%ar.seeing and %sagacious statesmen
--"How and in what way are we 60
ing to build these proposed good high
ways?" Lots of folks have each in
their wi fashion solved the prob
lem; but few Of them to agree
on which viii be the best plan for the
nation, and also for the States, indi'
vidually, to adopt and enact into law,
There arc two plans now before the
people which find plenty of favor in
diqerent parts of the country. One
and the other is known as the Nation
al Meridian Military Highway. Mr.
Robert Campbell, Secretary of the lat
ter plans organization, has written to
Senator Gronnna from AnadarkO, OK
lahOma, on the matter.
In his reply, Senator Gronnna says:
81 an in sympathy with the good
roads movement. The building of good
roads is one of the most important
subjects this nation has to deal with.
AS a member of the Good Roads Con-
g1essional Committee have given
this subject very careful study, and
the most practical plan seems to me
to be the one worked out by Senator
Bourne. assume that you know
what that plan is, | will therefore not
undertake in a letter to set forth the
merits of the Bourne plan. 1t is to
me the only one suggested that is at
all feasible. The Bourne plan means
cooperation between the Federal Gov
eminent and the states; the Federal
Government loaning it's credit to the
states and leaving it to the states to
take the initiative.
81 an interested in good roads in
d general way; that is, we want to
build roads so that ultimately every
body will be benefited, but it must
first begin at some specific point and
in a certain locality, and taking every
thing into consideration ! believe that
the National Meridian Military High.
way of which you speak which would
run through the state Of North Da-
kota and through the county where |
live, namely, Nelson county, and
through or neal the cities of Dahlen,
Petersburg and Aneta, would prob
ably be constructed if the plan advo-
Gated by Senator Bourne is accepted
because there would be cooperation
between the township and the coun'
ty, the county and the state, and the
state and the federal government"
Washington, June Ex-senator
Gronna has received the following
selfexplanatory communication from
General w. H. gixby, Chief of Engt'
neers, U. S. Army, regarding the al
lotment Of money for the improve
ment of the Missouri river and other
matters in which the people Of North
Dakota are deeply Interested:
l.. Referring to your recent visit
to this office with Senator Nelson,
Senator McCumber, and Captain Ba'
ker, during which the allotment OF
funds appropriated by the act of
March 4, 1913, for the improvement
of Missouri River was discussed with
Colonel Taylor, | have the honor to
inform you that the various points
brought up in your discussion were
referred to Maj. Herbert Deakyne,
Corps of Engineers, the district officer
at Kansas City, Mo-, and he reports as
follows:
1t Is not expected that two snag-
boats will be used exclusively on
this division of the river. 1t is In
tended that the snagboat Mandan
shall be used above Sioux City, and
that practically all of the time she
shall be employed above Pierre, 5.
Oak. The snagboat Mcpherson will
be used from Kansas City, Mo" to
Pierre, 8. Oak, and possibly one
third of her time will be employed
above Sioux City. e
The work from Kansas City to
Fort Benton has been greatly handi-
capped by the lack of sufficient float
ing plant. 1t is not possible to do
all of the work on the ice during the
winter and there is not enough plant
now on hand for the proper equip
ment of the construction parties now
in the field. 1t is proposed to use
part of this item for new plant.
Most of the plant on hand is old,
requiring constant repairs, which are
made at the b%oatyards at Sioux Ice
Harbor, S. OAK, and Rock Haven, N.
Oak. A part Of the funds under
item 81" will be used in maintaining
these boatyards.
In regard to winter snagging, a
party has been kept in the field dur
ing the last two winters, and has
succeeded in removing quite a num-
Der of snags and rocks. During the
past winter the party was in the field
from January IL to March II, 1913.
during which time So snags and IL
rocks were removed from the chan
mel of the river and 112 leaning trees
were cut along the bank. The oper-
ations extended over 40 miles OF the
river. With all conditions favorable,
It is not likely that one party could
cover more than 200 miles during n
season. 1t is 1875 miles from Sioux
City to Fort Benton. The work Is
considered worthy of further trial.
49,. o~1 4.g o. ln