The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-30
Fargo. N. D.

country were turned to the develop
ment OF a railroad system, and the
wagon roads were allowed to take care
OF themselves which they did by oft
en- becoming impossible. The build
Ing OF wagon roads was apparently
considered to be Of minor importance,
a purely local matter, which should
be left to be cared for by each local
community. AS a consequence, for
the next seventy-f1ve years we find
practically all road legislation shaped
for that end. The spirit of co-opera-
ton and co-ordination seems to have
been entirely lacking and while the
construction Of the great railroad sys-
TENS furnished great impetus to
and accelerated the Development of the
country to a wonderful degree, the
system was incomplete without the
important assistance which could only
be furnished by an adequate highway
system. In many cases the highway
work was in charge Of inexperienced
local men whose term Of Office expired
whenever they displeased a political
faction and they were succeeded by
men of still less experience. In fact
there were few men in the entire
country who had given highway con-
struction any scientific thought or
study and often the work performed
on highways instead of improving
them rendered them less serviceable.
The condition existed to a large ex-
tent in many communities until the
advent Of the motor vehicle, the effect
OF which was twofold; It not only was
very destructive to many types of
road which had heretofore been ade-
quate, but the users Of motor cars de-
manded an extension Of the better
types OF road construction because it
was practicable to cover great dis
tances, thus making possible a more
economical marketing of products and
distribution OF other commodities. II
also brought into being a new method
OF touring the country and becoming
acquainted with many Of its most at
tractive features.
On account OF this destructive TEN
dency OF the motor traffic as we'll as
on account Of the greater possibilities
and greater needs of better and more
permanent types OF road building IL
became more than ever important that
road, building should be placed in the
hands OF skilled men. Several Of the
states undertook the solution of the
problem by establishing state highway
uepartnents TO have charge OF the
construction and maintenance Of i'm.
portant roads and wherever skilled
road builders were selected to direct
the work this plan proved to be very
successful. But in those states where
political Affiliations rather than engin-
eering qualifications dictated the Sc
lection OF the personnel of the high
way department the plan afforded AIT
little relief. For many reasons fha To-
cal communities have been reluctant
TO relinquish control OF their roads
and now, 25 years after the establish
ment OF the first state highway de-
partment, we find that only about one
half OF the states have efficient high
way organizations
In January, 1915. joint committee
resentatives reported, in part. as fol-
lows:
Experience had demonstrated that
past methods are inadequate to ac-
complish desired results TO the orig
inal plan Of leaving highway con-
struction and maintenance to the civil