The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-12-24
STATE HIGHWAY BOARD IN
REPLY, TO CHARGES MADE BY
~~t K0SlTZKY OF EXTRAVAGANZA

With reference to State Auditor
Karl kOsitZky's brOadside fired on the
state highway commission Wednes-
day, when he announced his intention
of voting against allowing further
bills presented by this board, on the
ground that the commission already
has expended more than it is entitled
to, by law, State Engineer Jay w.
Bliss, secretary of the commission,
has the following to say:
"December 20, 1917.
'"ro the Editor of the Bismarck Trib-
une:
''The article appearing in last
nights Tribune, giving an account Of
the state auditors unwarranted and
obstructive position in regard to the
road situation in North Dakota, has
just come to my attention. The broad
manner in which you described the
work and difficulties of the commits
sion in the last paragraphs, meets
with our heartiest approval. We feel
that you have stated the situation so
well that further answer to Mr..
kOsitZky's grOundless charges is
scarcely required. However, the in
terences made by the auditor are so
manifestly unfair and unfounded, and
= his conception Of the state highway
law is so erroneous that we, ask. your
indulgence to present number of per-
tinent facts for publication, more in
justice to the cause Of good roads and
in behalf of the people of North Da-
kOta who seriously desire better high.
commission or its work. ..-,a , ,s.:
Impression Incorrect.
I'm the first place, the impression
which the auditor evidently intended
to create was that 100000 has been sex.
pended by the state highway commits.
sion in engineering road work in or
der to perform $214.12 worth of actu.
al road construction. This is abso.
futely false and ridiculous, the fact
being that there is practically no con.
nection whatever between these two
sums because practically all yof the1
100000 or more mentioned has been
spent in preparing for 1918 and 1919
Federal Aid work, whereas the $214.l2|
is the states share of small 81, 1922. Sc
State Aid job in Trail county. This
job was started late in the fall with
the hope of seeing some dirt fly" in
our first year. but inclement weather
resulted in an early suspension of the
work with the construction, about one
third completed The state auditor
carelessly remarks that $3O.0S9.3S|
has been spent for salaries and travel,
ing expenses. As a matter of fact,
the sum mentioned includes postage,
supplies, equipment, furniture and fix
lures, five Ford cars, printing, tele-
phone and telegraph charges, freight,
express, drayage,c and the State High
way commissions salaries and expens-
es ($610.OO) to the sum of $S;229.22,
much of which are assets and can not
be chargeable solely and exclusively
to the first nine months work of the
commission. AS statei,a sum of $4,000
was specifically provided for the pur.
pose OF Immediately organizing the |
State Highway cOmmission and per-.
forming all the necessary preliminary
work; purchasing supplies, office and |
field equipment and securing expert
assistance. Consequently the expend.
iture of not over $4,000 of state high
way moneys derived from the licens-
Ing OF motor vehicles has been made.
Where Money Has Gone.
t"Granted that this amount has been
expended on engineering, a question
Immediately arises What has been
done with that sum- To describe in
detail all the first nine months work
OF the commission would be beyond
he scope of this letter but in general.
the results may be summarized as foil
lows: I'LL. |
First: Reconnaissance . SURVEYS
have been made on 1852 miles of state |
highways and reconnaissance esti.
mates have been completed to the |
total of 100000 worth of work. In
other Words several hundred miles
have been inspected for 1919 work.
Second: Representatives havel
met with county officials on 50 occa-I
sions, visiting So counties in connec.|
tiOn with road work. .
Third: A field and office force has
heen developed, standards and oper.
atlng methods adopted, the whole
time and energy of the force having
been practically devoted to next sea. |
sons work.
Fourth: A small beginning has
been made along educational and pub
licity lines.
Fifth: One contract and two
force-account jobs OF state aid work
were partially completed
Sixth: Preliminary surveys have
been made for 491.7 miles of federal
and state aid highways in twenty-one
different counties.
Seventh: The commissions office
force, to the size of which the state
auditor, apparently without any
knowledge as to the facts, takes ex-
ception, is now engaged in making