The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-06-29
GOOD TEAM WORK
TO BETTER ROADS
100 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AVN
SURVEYORS GET ACQUAINTED
WITH STATE COMMISSION.
some Ways and Means Are Decided
upon for Standardization of Con.
str"ction of Highways, and the
state and County Officials Are
Getting Down to Business,

10 bring about uniform methods
of road building throughout Montana
is the object of a movement launched
at Helena, when 100 commissioners
ana surveyors from the various coun-
'les met with the state highway COM
mission.
1t was unanimously agreed that
methods OF highway building in Mon
taha should be standardized in the in
terest OF better roads and economy.
10 further this the county commits
sloners decided to ask the highway
commission to assemble the - best
practical, experienced road builders
who are familiar with the problems
peculiar to every section of the state
and every type of road building.
These men Will get together, ex-
change ideas, observe the building of
various kinds of roads and then
agree on the best points in each. so
that system may be adopted to be
recommended to the different coun
ties.
Plan for Cooperation.
Oscar Rohn of Butte, president of
the state highway commission, who
PASoANSo oNSI LuC ulccIluS, stated
that the plan is simply to cooperate
with such counties as request it, and
that 1T will not be necessary for any
county to adopt the scheme recon-
mended unless they wish to. "Any
of the counties wishing to avail them
selves of the advice and assistance of
the men who will handle this work
may have it without any cost I'd
Them" said Mr.. Rohn. cit is simply
mobilization of he best brains and
the best methods of he many practi-
cal, experienced and successful Mon
tana roadbuilders who are thorough
ly familiar with conditions in all
parts of the state"
The meeting developed a cordial
spirit of cooperation between the
various county commissioners. county
engineers and the state highway com
mission: ''The highway commission"
said Mr.. Rohn, "can do little without
the cooperation of the counties. 1t
was therefore deemed advisable to
have the county commissioners get
together and tell us in what ways we
can serve them. The state itself is
not prepared to build roads. The
highway commission is seeking mere
ly to coordinate the work of the sew
eral counties and evolve system
that will make every dollar expended
on roads do the most efficient work
possible.
Engineer Is Engaged.
The highway commission has en-
gagged an expert engineer, who is a
road builder with much practical ex-
perience in Montana, and another
man who has devoted his life to
bridge building. Their services may
be had by the different counties with
out cost to the counties"
Paul Pratt, chief engineer of the
state highway commission, aroused
intense interest when he explained
the regulations under which the
counties of Montana may secure a to-
tai of $1,500,000 of federal money
during the next five years. 1t was
evident from the questions directed
toward Mr.. Pratt by commissioners
that many counties are planning to
avail themselves of portions of this
fund.
"Ninety-eight thousand dollars is
available this year, and there will be
twice that amount next year." said
Mr.. Pratt. Each year for five years
the sum will be increased by sos, 900.
The federal aid will be extended to
roads over which mails are carried,
or over which there is reasonable ex-
pectation that they may be carried in
the future. The county makes it's
application to the state highway COM
mission, and it is approved and sent
to the secretary of agriculture, who
decides each case on it's merits The
government will pay not to exceed SO
per cent of the cost of the project"