The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-25
BLISS DECLARES
STATE AUDITOR
TALKS WITHOUT.
KNOWING FACTS
Highway Engineer Sets
Forth Details of Com
missions Work
NO WASTE IN
STATE FUNDS
Plans Now Being Drawn
For 40 Miles of Roads
Under Federal Aid

The case OF the state highway
commission, brought prominently TO
the front within the past few DAYS
when Karl KosttglZy, state auditor,
wrote a letter declaring the highway
commission was spending too much
money In salaries, and not enough
in highway work, is presented by j.
W. Bliss, state engineer, in a letter
70 The Bismarck Tribune.
Mr.. Bliss takes the state auditor to
task, declaring that the auditor is
Tar beside the mark. Mr.. Bliss let
ter follows:
The article . . giving an ac-
count OF the state auditors unwar-
ranted and obstructive position in re-
gard to the road situation in North
Dakota, has just come to my atten-
ton. The broad manner in which
you described the work and difncul-
ties OF the commission in the last
paragraphs, meets with our heartiest
approval. We feel that YOU. have
stated the situation so wei that a
further answer to Mr. Kositzky's
groundless charges is scarcely re-
quired. However, the differences
made by the auditor are so manifest
" unfair and unfounded, and his
conception Of the state highway law
is so erroneous that we ask your in
diligence to present a number Of
pertinent facts for publication, more
in Justice to the cause OF good roads
and In behalf OF the people OF North
Dakota who seriously desire better
highways than inN defense Of the
highway commission or its work.
Organization Expense.
TN the first place, the impression
which the auditor evidently intend
ed to create was that $4,000 has been
expended by the state highway COM
mission in engineering road work in
order 60 perform $214.12 worth of
actual road construction. This is abb
solutely false and ridiculous. the
fact being that there Is practically
no connection whatever between
these two sums because practically
all the $50. 900 or more mentioned
has been spent in preparing for
1918 ana 1918 federal ala work.
whereas the S214.00 is the states
share OF a small $6,992.56 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 Indictment weather resulted
in an early suspension of the work
with the construction about one
third completed. The state auditor
carelessIy remarks that $30,OSs. 3S
has been spent for salaries and
travelling expenses. As a matter of
fact, the sum mentioned includes
postage, supplies, equipment, furni-
ture and fixtures, i've Ford cars,
printing, telephone and telegraph
charges, freight, express, drayage
and the state highway commissions
salaries and avnau9aa Teea.n n0N ~
the sum Of $s,229.22 much of which
are assets and can not be charge
able solely and exclusively to the
first nine months work OF the COM
mission. As stated. sum OF Ss, 600
was specifically provided for the
purpose OF Immediately organizing
the state highway commission and
performing all the necessary prelim-
mary work; purchasing supplies, Of
flee and field equipment and securing
expert assistance. Consequently the
expenditure OF not over So, 900 Of
state highway moneys derived from