Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-09-23
PROMOTING PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

Engineers OF the. state in session at Bismarck
adopted resolutions in favor of having engineers.
urge upon their respective communities the inaugu-
ration of useful and necessary public improvements
now as a means of providing employment for labor
which otherwise would be idle, and thus aiding in
the restoration of normal conditions throughout the
country. The fact that those who adopted these
resolutions have a personalin interest in the inaugura-
ton and prosecution OF such work does not affect
the value of. the recommendation.
RS There should be a distinct line drawn between
work that is useful and necessary and that which is
undertaken for the mere sake Of having money spent.
There has been much of the latter. Federal rivers
and harbors bills have in the past been strongly
tinctured with this sort of scandal. These bills have
been loaded up with projects devised solely for the
purpose of securing the expenditure of money in the
districts OF certain congressman. Dredging has
been done on rivers which under no conceivable
circumstances could be expected to float anything
larger than a canoe. Harbors have been construct.
ed where no shipping could be expected. Such
projects have been engineered through congress by
trades in which one legislator supported a project
which he knew to be worthless in consideration Of
support given to a worthless project of his own.
Doubtless trades have been necessary to insure ap-
preparations for really meritorious purposes. AS a
result the whole rivers and harbors subject has
come into disfavor.
Waterways are of the highest Importance to the
country. They must be laid out, constructed and
maintained. There is need for the constant ex-
penditure Of money on Them and there should be
no nesitat1on IN making proper appropriations for
them. he business of the legislator is not to oppose
all appropriations for such purposes because in the
past some appropriations have been wastefully
made, but to distinguish between work which is
really OF a constructive character and what is not,
and tto,sg1ves all necessary support to the former.
On the same basis, engineers, who from the ma
tures Of their calling,,Sar familiar with the subject,
can perform an important public service by inform
ing the several communities as to actual needs and
how these@needs should be met. And the time to
undertake necessary public work on a scale COM
fnensurate with the financial possibilities is right
There is 4 certain amount of public work Of a
permanent and constructive character which err,ust
be done ia the near future. Contracts for that work
cansbe LET to better advantage now than later. And
sthe letting Of such contracts, il the practice became
general would do more to bring prosperity to the
country than anything within the reach Of those who
have ehsrgeo f our public affairs.
# The contractor who takes 4 contract now 81 IN
1tf1e near future must take steps Immediately to Sc
eure his material, SWorkmen will be put az work
pfoducingasstee and cement, and lumber, and III the
Sa0thSf materials needed. Their wages will BE turned
into the regular channels; Of trade, and Il new de-
ffnand will be creatcd for the goods which they con-
fsnr1e when they are and prosperous. here ii
tcrezted An endless chain of prosperity, and that in
Anencegextsnds into every indnstryy
N#$SS4M#&%E%%#
The Chicago young man who killed Two auto
mobile ~saiesnen tells dhes reporters that ne never
smoked ~ chewed innsliis ife Murder. II seems,
wss hs only bads habak