The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-05-22
w. r. Tucker, E. C. Roberts and w.
w. Olson follow:

w. r. Tucker, E. C. Roberts and w.
w. Olson follow:
"A committee having been appoint
ed by the Auditors Association of the
state of North Dakota assembled at
Minot, this 21st day of May, 1919, to
draft proper resolutions concerning
federal and state aid in construction
Of highways, viz: Whereas, it has
developed that upon investigation
federal aid given to construction Of
highways seem a waste of money as
administered under our present high
way system, and as far as state aid
10 concerned the amount is negligible
in comparing the cost of construction
of highways in the several counties
of this state who have had the ex-
perience and undertaking of the con-
struction of roads by the highway
commission. The only money avail
able for road construction by the state
is from the automobile registration
fund, derived from license tags issued
on motor vehicles.
Therefore, be it resolved by this
committee subject to the approval of
the state association of county aud
itors, assembled in Minot this 21st
day of May, 1919, that it is imprac-
tlcable, willfu1 waste Of money and
useless effort to try and construct
any other roads than hard surface
or cement road which might be con-
structed under the supervision Of the
state highway commission within this
state under the laws as administered
at the present time. That we, as an
association, call attention to our board
of county commissioners the condi-
ton that exists under the present ad-
ministration of the laws by the state
highway commission as constituted
at the present time. That the state
ments eminating through the press
bureau Of the state highway commits
sion and it's members as to the great
benefits to be derived from federal
and state aid in the construction of
highways is misleading and it's aims
deceive the actual conditions of the
tax paying public to such an extent
that they create a hardship for the
county auditors and the boards of
county commissioners of the several
board of this state in attempting to
lead the taxpayer to believe that he
is to get nothing by taking federal
and state aid in the construction of
highways within the state.
In several counties it has develop
ed that roads or highways Of . SINH
lar character that is being builded by
the state highway commission has
been constructed at approximately
$500 and 5000 per mile for dirt road
where experience Of the counties who
have undertaken the construction Of
dirt roads under the supervision Of
the state highway commission the
cost has been any way from one
thousand. to twenty-i five hundred dol
lars per mile for the construction OF
a highway not much better than has
been constructed by the individual
counties at $500 to 5000 per mile. 1t
is the consensus of opinion among
the forty auditors of this state in
this convention that these conditions
exist and that it IL time that the
matter be brought to the attention of
the public in such manner as will
straighten out the false statements
which have eminated from the office
of the highway commission.
The resolutions were passed with
out dissenting vote.
Last evening the auditors sat at q
banquet in the Leland Hotel. At
torney Dudley L. Nash was the
speaker of the evening.
Immediately following the address
of Highway Commissioner Wallace
the Auditors passed resolutions 60
ing on record as against any changes
in the present system of distributing
the railway taxes without prior notice
of at least ten years.
: Prof. Roylance, tax expert, in the
employ Of the state tax commission,
addressed the auditors, explaining
some Of the more complicated phases
Of the state Legislative attachments.
At times there arose considerable con-
troversy as to the proper interpreta-
tion to place, upon certain classical
tions, but the explanations Of the tax
expert were satisfactory, TO him, ct
least, that his version simplified mat
tiers and clarified the situation.
This afternoon the auditors were
taken for q drive about the city in
autos, q number of cars having been
placed at the disposal of the enter
tainment by public spirited citizens.
"Ranney" Kennard was perhaps
the busiest man In Ward county as
upon him devolved the principal share
Of the arrangements pertaining to
the convention. H. E. Wheeler, tax
supervisor of Ward county, as well
as number Of visiting supervisors
were present during, the sessions.
Andrew Blewett of jamestown. aud
itor of Stutsman county, was greatly
missed as he is looked upon as the
dean of the county auditors of the
state. Mr.. Blewett recently suffered
an accident which necessities his
going about on crutches and this alone
prevented his attendance at the first
meeting of the auditors which he has
missed since the organization was
formed.
Many favorable comments were
heard regarding the address of Dud-
ley Nash, at the banquet Wednesday
evening. This address was said to
have been the finest exposition of the
present day situation that was ever
heard in the city. From the fact
of Mr.. Nash's association with the
leading men Of the state ever since
territorial days he was able to give his
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