The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-08-11


der contract at prices from Is to so
per cent below 1920 levels charged
counties. Fight continued for federal
aid apportionment to enable Mime
sofa to carry out it's full 1921 program
for 677 miles of grading, 438 miles of
gravel surfacing and 80 miles Of new
paving.
New high records in highway i'm
provement this year are assured the
state with road funds from all sources
expected to exceed $26,000,000. The
trunk funds include nearly 100000
of motor vehicle taxes. Five hundred
thousand dollars Of county bond money
and probably $2,840,0o0 of federal aid,
it is estimated, while counties will
have nearly $12,500,oo0 to spend on
the laterals or feeder roads-$10,85
900 of local tax revenue and 81 $50, 900
of state aid.
With extra organization work &C.
complished and urgent projects under
way after the first strenuous three
months period, Commissioner Babcock
expects the trunk system to show
steadily increasing results: While
there can be no letup, little difficulty is
anticipated in keeping things moving.
Weak spots in the organization are
bringing changes and by fall the trunk
highway forces will aim at 100 per
cent efficiency.
Commissioner Babcock's policy, as
announced at the outset, is to get the
utmost in quick results this season by
maintenance work and to steadily
build up his organization for even bet
ter showings in the future.
Minnesota's new highway laws were
passed and he was reappointed under
them April rs. Until that time the
commissioner was without authority
or funds to make even preliminary
surveys. He started at the very be-
ginning with the construction season
already on. Then came the announce
ment that greatest stress would be
laid on maintenance this year.
Designation Of temporary locations
of trunk routes listed in the Babcock
amendment were rushed, and, as the
roads were taken over, patrolmen were
found for the five or six mile sections.
Also, big truck and tractor fleets went
! in to the field to shape them up for
! the patrolmen where necessary.
Attention was given then to the
construction projects. Acting on the
principle that a chain is no stronger
than it's weakest link, a policy of first
building up poor stretches on long
mileages' Of otherwise good roads was
adopted.
Mr.. Babcock with John H. Mullen,
assistant commissioner and chief road
engineer, began tour of trunk routes,
Covering about 200 miles a day, they
picked out sections in need of. early
improvement. Then, as the order of
projects took form, directions were
wired to the St. Paul offices, survey
parties were dispatched and plans
made on which to call for bids.
Promoting competition by arrang-
ing three lettings on lists of 81 ,0O0, 900
each about month apart, the commits
sloner secured bids on grading and
gravellng averaging 40 per cent under
1920 costs. and Is per cent lower on
paving in spite of big increases in
railroad rates. Special precautions
were taken to insure completion of
work this season.
The commissioner and his assistants
also gave aid to various counties on
planning and putting under contract
about $5,0O0,0o0 of trunk highway i'm
provements financed with county rein-
bursement funds.
A large amount of odd work was ad-
vanced. Surveys and Investigations
were made Of routes in doubt or cor
troversy. Efforts were put forth to
give courteous attention to many petit
tons presented and communications
received.
Among other special work, plans
were made to mark al trunk routes
with their respective numbers on vel
low stars, significant of the North
Star state. This big task is being