The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-01-29
COUNTY AS UNIT ~ =
ROAD BUILDING
Peterson
Trail Association, Hettingef. NJ d. ~ is'i'

In this road building age, we can
not, too soon adopt those methods
in road building which give the best
results for the money expended.
In 1913,, the county commissioners
of Yellowstone county, Montana,
built 121 miles of good earth roads
well finished. for s41.i5 per mile.
Their road was thirty feet wide from
ditch to ditch, and the crown was
raised at least foot above level. In
1914 the same county built more
than 200 miles at a cost of less than
$4,000 per mile.
This is the best record of any
county on the Yellowstone Trail
Their method is certainly worth con.
sidering by those who are interested
in getting the best results for the
money expended on roads.
Their method is not different from
that used In most counties, but vastly
different from that used I'm North
Dakota, South Dakota, and many
states farther east.
They have what we call the county
unit; that Is, all roads are hull,
under the supervision Of the county
commissioners. with the aid OF the
county engineer and deputies. Under
this system they are able to build
roads that begin somewhere and
end somewhere;" roads that have
no weak or missing links; roads over
which IL Is a pleasure and comfort
to pass, and roads which greatly
enhance the value of adjoining
farms. and they are able to build
them AT remarkably low cost.
"A chain is no stronger than is
weakest link" a road is no better
than it's poorest section. IL there Is
n place where your tonnage must be
reduced In order that you may pass
over, that place fixes your tonnage
and largely the value of your road
The county unit Is large enough
so that the most modern road build
ing machinery can be used. A county
can afford. II necessary, to buy $40.
900 worth of road machinery, where
as a township could rarely afford
such an expenditure.
Yellowstone county has about SO,
10000 worth OF road machinery. They
have two large gasoline tractors, one
elevating grader. four large blade
graders, one team. several dunn
wagons, a cook car and portable
camp. To each tractor they hitch
two blade graders. One man does the
cooking. One man with team sup
plies provisions, gasoline. and water
Having a portable camp, the men
are able to begin work prompt,
morning and noon.
Their men are hired by the month
for the entire season of sever
months. They become proficient II
their work and accept reasonable
wages. Work begins early in the
spring and continues until late In
the fall. No time Is lost for ma
chinery, teams, or men, as Is sc
often the case where work is spas
, modic. rs-
They build on an average two
miles per day with two engines, -four
bladge graders, one team, and
eight men, including cook and team
ster.
Following is a statement OF their
work for 1913 (work was done with
one tractor, one elevating grader. and
two blade graders):
Cost OF plant. horses. ma
chinery, etc. ........ s6.447. Sc
Interest on investment.
one year at two and one
half per cent ......... l6l .2(
Depreciation. wear and
tear. twenty per cent :. 1888. 81
Oil and gasoline ....... 1,225. 81
Groceries. meat, hay and
grain ................ $50. %
Livery and transportation 17.6s
Labor and management 2,2S9. SIS
Repairs. sharpening tools
and shoeing horses -. 30. OC
s5.s74. as
Less credit for private
work paid for ........ $50. OC
Total noet NJ oo,nty