The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-11-23
lists, and Philip Johnson, Carl Olson
and Algot Swanson. intimate friends"
No Occasion for Friction.

No Occasion for Friction.
| 1t does seem to US as if there should
be no hesitancy on the part of the
board Of county commissioners to CO.
operate heartily with the Highway
FCommission in the work of surveying
making detailed estimate and super
vlslng the improvement of State Roao
No. l, where the Federal aid is to be
expended. The Highway Commission
offers the services of one of the best
engineers in it's employ to do the work
without cost to the county, the work
of making a detailed survey to COM
mence at once. Certainly tho Com
mission could not make more gen
erous offer. This road in Mile Laos
county is the first in the state to re-
ceive Federal aid, hence the Highway
Commission is particularly anxious to
make a good showing and make every
dollar count, and that is just exactly
what the people of Mile Laos county
want and will insist on.
There is no disposition on the part
of the Highway Commission or any
one else to reflect on Mr. James D.
Gray, the resident assistant highway
engineer. He is capable young man
but has not had large experience in
road engineering, and besides he will
have all the work that he can attend
to, as there is $4,000 more to be ex-
pended on other state roads in the
county next year. The Highway Com
mission wants to meet all the require
ments Of the Federal road authorities,
and for that reason they offer the
services Of one of the best. and most
successful engineers in the employ of
the state to lay out and supervise the
work from start to finish. The coun-
ty commissioners, of course, to let the
contracts for the work. Then if the
work is not done according to con-
tract, if the results obtained do not
justify the expenditures, the RESPONSE
bility will rest with the engineer and
the Highway Commission. When the
county commissioners let the con-
tracts, their responsibility ceases.
Surely nothing could be fairer.
Presumably the Federal road au-
thorities will have their men inspect
the work as it proceeds where $780,
900 of Federal money is to be expend-
ed it is right they should.
Mr.. Gray, the resident engineer
will have fine opportunity to display
his mettle on the other state roads,
and if he can show good results for
the money expended under his super
vision it will be a feather in his cap
and rebound to his future advantage.
No time should be lost in getting
the preliminary work, not only on
State Road No. but on all the State
roads that it is contemplated to i'm
prove, under way at once, and have
everything in readiness to commence
active road-improvement as soon as
spring opens. The work should be all
completed next year.
There is another thing that should
be kept in mind by the county commits
sioners. If there are not sufficient
funds to complete State Road No. /
it's entire length next year, and the
part that has been completed is salts
factory to the State and Federal road
authorities, it will not be difficult
matter to get additional assistance,
both State and Federal year hence.
With all our heart and soul we wish
to see the road-improvement program
so auspiciously inaugurated this year
carried out to a successful compile
ton next year, and we sincerely hope
that the county commissioners will CO.
operate with the State and Federal
authorities to bring about that re-
suit.