The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-02-28
VALUABLE LESSON In ROAD BUILDING

Editors note: Every man inter-
ested in roads and home govern
ment should read this article. 1t is
only the remarks of a highway en-
gineer who is resigning, but the rea-
sons he gives for resigning are the
valuable part of the lesson. By
reading this article clear thru you
will get the whole lesson, and it will
only take you twenty minutes.)
A. R. Hirst. for fourteen years
state highway engineer of Wiscon-
sin, has resigned. His work has
placed Wisconsin in the front rank
of the good roads states of the ma
tion, but he is no longer willing to
assume responsibility for the tre-
mendous expenditures planned for
the future, with the inadequate Or
ganization allowed under the narrow
policy characteristic of public SER
vice in this country.
The conditions set forth in his let
ter of resignation are not peculiar
to Wisconsin. They apply equally
we'll to every county, every state and
to the nation. Just so long as public
servants are paid less than the mar
ket rate for such service, so long
will state and government organiza-
tions suffer from labor turnover
that would bankrupt private cor
pOration.
Mr.. Hirst's statement follows:
"The filing of my resignation as
state highway engineer, effective not
later than December 81 of this year,
or earlier, at the pleasure Of the state
highway commission, has occasioned
considerable comment and some
speculation as to my reasons for TAX
ing the step, especially in view Of
the fact that the present salary at
tached to the position, $500 per
annum, is one of the largest paid in
the state service. 1t Is only fair to
those people of the state who have
so Loyalty and freely supported our
efforts for the betterment of high
ways in Wisconsin that I should at
this time give some of the reasons
for taking the step which has been
l wish to state at the outset that
there is and has been nothing in my
relations with the state highway COM
mission, with any past or present
state official, or with the present leg
islature, to impel me to resign. My
personal and business relations with
all of these persons and bodies have
been Of the pleasantest, and, I have
every reason to believe, would so
continue as long as l felt able to
remain in the state service.
1t Is nearly fourteen years since
l entered the highway service of
Wisconsin. In that time, under the
impetus of the state-aid (191I and
federal-aid (191D highway laws,
the highway program in Wisconsin
has reached tremendous proportions.
There have been built $500 miles
Of all types of highway and 1900
bridges at total cost of $40,000,000.
For the planning and execution of
this work, as the chief engineer
and executive officer of the state
highway. commission, have been per-
sonally responsible.
For 1921 there is available total
of over $2O,000,000. (Please note
this total in comparison with the
above total for 1912 to 1920 inclu-
sive,) for federal, state and county
aid construction of roads and bridges
in Wisconsin, exclusive of the
available for strictly town,
village and city construction. This
sum will not and should not all be
spent, because we are not organized
to spend 1t properly, but probably
we'll over 1000 miles of all types of
highway will be built. The years
that have gone since 1907 have seen
Wisconsin placed in the foremost
rank as a state which is building
roads as fast as sound business judg-
ment warrants, and as state which,
in the meanwhile, has maintained
a highway system of which most Of
her citizens are proud.
I give these matters Of record, not
in spirit Of boastfulness, but simply