The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-05-27
COUNTY ROAD BUILD
ing PROGRAM ADOPTED
County Commissioners of Ward COun-
ty Take Another Great Step For
ward in Road Building.

The County Commissioners of Ward
county took long step forward in
the matter of providing highways thru
out, the entire county this week by
the adoption of a comprehensive road
building program that effects every
township in the county.
Some time ago County Surveyor
II. G. Frahm prepared plan for town
ship roads tc be built by the county
that is about the most perfect plan
that could be thought Of This plan
provides for at least six miles Of
county road in each township in Ward
county, said road leading from some
where to some market town, all of
the stretches of road connecting SO
as to make perfect network pf
highways that will be built under con-
tract, and alon" plans and specifica-
tions little short of those used for
government aid roads.
Far some years this county has
been levying $4,000 to $4,000 annu-
ally for highways within the county.
For some little time this money has
been appropriated among the various
commissioners districts on a $3.50
basis with the townships, with the re-
suit that the townships that would
meet this county aid would get some
good road while the townships that
were backward in improving their
highways did not get any county help.
Under the plan adopted this week
every township will get at least six
miles of road as stated regardless Of
the fact that they do not cooperate
with the county, but it is expeced
by the county commissioners that the
township officers will then build de-
cent roads to these trunk line roads,
which in turn connect with the state
and federal aid roads.
It has taken a long time to bring
about the adoption of this plan, and
this fact alone proves that the com
missioners have given the matter sep.i-
Gus thought, and have not made a
mistake in adopting the plan.
On June 16, there will be meet
ing of all the county supervisors, of
the county held at the court house at
which time the County Commissioners
will go into detail with them regard
ing the building of state and federal
aid projects and county roads in the
townships with the hope that the sup
ervisors will see the justice of coop
Grating with the county officials in
every way to the end that Ward coun-
ty will, within 40 very few years have
the very best dirt and gravel roads
in the whole state, if not in the en-
tire northwest. Others subjects will
also be discussed at this meeting,
but the highways will come in for the
most attention.
1t has been found that under the
old system of building roads in this
county that much of the money was
wasted, not dishonesty, but through
lack cf knowledge of road building.
The contract system has been founl
to be the only way to insure good
highways, for when contract is en-
tered into the contractor has to give
bond that the road will be completed
as per contract or the pay can b.
withheld. Under the system just
adopted by the beard all the safe
guards possible can be thrown around
the contracts and they will be sure
to get value for the county money.
In very few years also, the levy
for county road purposes could be
lowered to the level Of upkeep alone,
thereby saving the taxpayers of the
county in the end great deal of
money.
The county commissioners of War;
county are making real progressive
history and are to be highly COM
mended for their excellent work. /.