The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1920-01-29
BABC0C,':::
WILL
Be PLENTIFUL
FOR HIGHWAYS
~
State Will Have No Difficulty
in Securing Cement for =
the Road Surface !!
ONLY 200 MILES WILL ~
REQUIRE CEMENT 1920
Minnesota's Biggest Job This
Summer Will Be of Pre-
paratory Nature
ONI ~ 200 MIL &c WIFI ~
REQUIRE CEMENT 1920

st. Paul, Jan. 29.-Dihficulty ex-
perienced by the State of Illinois in
procuring cement in sufficient Quan-
tity to carryout its 1920 permanent
road program is not likely to inter-
fere with the plans of the Minnesota
State Highway department, aSo1o6r
ing to c. M. Babcock, state highway
commissioner, who does not antici-
pate that Minnesota will find itself
similarly handicapped.
Illinois plans call for the building
Of l,l00 miles of permanent roads in
1920, In addition to completing con-
tracts awarded last year. The direc-
tor of public works advertised for
100000 barrels of cement, and the
maximum offered by the cement COM
panies was slightly more than $780,
900 barrels. Prices quoted range
from $40 to $1.S5 a barrel, approx
imately the same figures that pre-
vailed in 1919.
Ample Supply for Minnesota.
None of the mills supplying Illi-
nois' cement is located in the North
west,, and Commissioner Babcock
believes that no difficulty will be
experienced by Minnesota In IpEocur-
Ing all the cement Minnesota needs
in 1920 from the mills at Duluth and
Mason City, Iowa.
During the war the mills in the
East were taxed beyond their capac-
w. M~ Dab
then the situation In the North west
was not strained. Northwestern
mills are not likely to ship their
product when there is market for
their output at home
Minnesotas 1920 permanent road
building program calls for about 200
miles Of pavement requiring cement
This includes contracts that were not
completed in 1919. 1t requires twen-
ty carloads or about $4,000 barrels
OF cement for each mile OF pavement.
This means that Minnesota will re-
quire only between 100000 and L.
100000 barrels Of cement to carry
her program through the season.
Minnesota's biggest job for 1920
Is OF a preparatory nature. The sea-
sons program calls for about 1900
miles OF sub-grading in preparation
for the paving that is to follow. In
out this work, cement will
be used only in bridges and culverts.
The quality required is not consid.
cradle.
Expects Plenty of Beds.
Rumors have been current to the
effect that contractors who bid ON
Minnesota roads last season lost
large sums because of the increase
in the cast of materials. These are
refuted by Commissioner Babcock.
ION certain jobs the contractors
failed to make profit because Of diff
hculties they experienced in having
delivered promptly" he
said. 1T was not because of the
price, but because the railroads fail
ed to meet the emergency. At times
1t was necessary to suspend opera
lions and keep the men on the pay
roll because the materials had not
been delivered to keep them busy.
The situation is improved this year,
and similar trouble is not anticipat-
ed. I do not believe the state will
have any trouble in obtaining COM
petitive bids, and / do not look for
exorbitant prices"
Exorbitant Cost Plea Secuted.
Persons opposed to the popular
Of the states permanent
building program are using as propa-
5anda the argument that the cost Of
the roads will be so exorbi-
ant that there will be no funds
AVAILABLE for maintenance, after they
ire constructed.
This is characterized as sheer non-
sense by Commissioner Babcock.
Ratification of the amendment does
lot commit to the state issuance
If bonds for the construction of
'oads, he said. The legislature will
regulate the purposes and methods
If expenditures, and the state high
way department certainly will not
recommend the award Of bids for
'oad construction at exorbitant costs,
ne said.
Zone of the principal reasons for
'atifying the amendment is to enable
The state to avail itself of Federal
aid to the amount Of $2,8OO,OOO an
nually.' he said, land 1t would be a.
very short-sighed policy to pass it
up"