The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-01-06

/ Systems as ABOVE OulllUeu.
! standardization for obtaining the
funds which have or may be appro-
priated by the federal government;
also the raising of funds by the state
and by the counties to cover the cost
of the locating, construction and main
tanning the highways Of each system.
| am in favor Of the plan suggested
by Mr.. Opie Chambers, Of doing away
with the present personal tax on auto
mobiles, etc, and the placing OF a
graduated license tax on all vehicles
which make general use of the high
ways. Bond issues to be provided
for in anticipation of the tax, when
necessary in order to carry out an ex-
tensive program of improvements.
Third-Provision for the supervision
OF construction and maintenance under
both state and county systems. This
is most important and should be given
very careful consideration before en-
acting into law, as upon the careful
selection of honest and competent
supervisors will depend the success
or failure Of either system. The fol
lowing Is my idea Of an organization
that would be necessary to carry on
successfully a comprehensive program
Of highway building:
State highway commission-Consist-
ing of three honest, broad-minded and
experienced business men, to be ap-
pointed by the governor and approved
by the Legislature. 1t would be the
duty Of this commission to appoint an
honest and thoroughly competent man
to take direct charge of the details
of organizing the various functions of
the department, and to fix his annual
compensation. The title of this officer
could be general manager, department
of highways, or something Of that ma
ture. 1t would be the duty of this
officer, subject to the approval of the
commission, to appoint and fix the
annual compensation Of a chief engi-
neer, bridge engineer. drainage engi-
neer, district engineers, superintend-
ent Of maintenance and such other as
s~istants as were found to be necessary.
The commission should hold regu-
lar monthly meetings of sufficient du-
ration to transact all business which
would be brought before it by the gen
eral manager, hearing of petitions, etc.
Each commissioner to receive an an
anal On, A;A,, - 90 nnn .-l t.o,.
cling expenses, and he would be ex-
pected to devote at least one-fourth
of his time to highway matters. The
compensation Of the general manager
should be not less than $4,000 and
travelling expenses.
The department Of highways should
formulate standard plans for bridges,
roadways, drainage, ETC.. including
standard specifications, contract form
and forms for advertisement for bids,
ETC., for each class of work. The law
should specifically require each county
in the state to use these standards
in the construction and maintenance
of the county systems of highways,
as to do so will not only effect a
large saving in engineering work, but
insure a uniform system that will Sc
cure more and better bids from con
tractors.
The board of county commissioners
could exercise the same supervision
over the county system as the high
way commission would over the state
system, and should appoint a county
highway supervisor, subject to ap-
prevail Of the general manager, to
take charge Of all the details in the
same manner as the general manager
would for the state, but to be sub
ject to the general manager as to
standards, etc. 1t would be his duty
to properly supervise the construc-
ton Of all projects authorized by the
board to appoint regular patrol men
sufficient in number to properly main
tain the entire county system, and
to see that all work pertaining TO
the system was properly executed.
Under both tts county and state
systems provision should be made
for an annual inspection Of the entire
system with recommendations and
estimates for work to be performed
during the coming season. The in
spection should be made not later than
September, and the recommendations
and estimates should be filed with the
respective boards not later thar De-
cember LIST, SO as to enable the work
to commence with the opening Of the
spring season. This portion Of the
law is very important, as a hit and
miss system of either construction or
maintenance would be expensive and
very undesirable. The seasons for
construction work in South Dakota
are short and in order to accomplish
much it Is necessary that work be