Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-03-24
SHRINK ! l ! ( ING I , FUNDS j
LIMIT ROAD WORK
BOND INTEREST TAKES TRUNK
FUNDS FEDERAL AID RE-
DUCED-IEss FOR ROADS

fixed charges taking the available
trunk highway funds for 1922, which
are greatly reduced in comparison with
the 1921 total, Charles M. Babcock,
state highway commissioner, today can.
celled the call for bids April on pro-
jects estimated at nearly 100000 and
announced that no additional construc.
tion can be undertaken this year.
Results this year on the trunk route
system, however, will compare favor.
ably with those last season, in spite
of. the reduction, in, available: funds,
the commissioner said. New construc.
tion is well up to the mark set, he said,
and maximum provision has been
made to continue maintenance opera
tions on virtually the same lines as
last season. r.
The unfortunate side Of the situa-
ton as viewed by highway officials, is
that the state is without. extra funds
to build needed highways on a bigger
scale now that bids demonstrate that
81 will do the work of SIS last season.
Indications: are that the lowest price
levels have been reached and costs
may 60 up next year, but the state
cannot take advantage of the unus.
rally favorable conditions because
special legislation is necessary and the
next regular session Of the legislature
will not open until January.
County reimbursement bond pro-
jects on trunk highways which top the
list Of expenditures include the paving
from St. Cloud north beyond Little
Falls at 100000, Red Lake county
work at $l75;OO0 and many smaller
jobs to be built this season.
The Northfeld- -Westcott paving con-
tract at 100000 was part Of the win
ter work program to speed the high
way program and relieve unemploy-
ment. Those and other items show
how the department put 1922 work
under contract early and at low prices
while the. 1921 projects could not be
started until June.
State Road Forces start 1922 Upkeep
Orders toward early: resumption of
daily dragging, mending and other
work on trunk highways-the so-called
Babcock roads-went out this week
from St.. Paul offices of the state
highway department to maintenance
superintendents in all districts.
Special spring breakup operations
were authorized. Instructions were
given to open bitches and otherwise
provide free. drainage, also to remove
slow melting snow and ice from shad-
ed cuts. Efforts must be made, hie
way officials said, to- dry the roads in
the shortest possible time. >,'-
Preliminary work Well advanced, the
big army Of trunk route patrolmen-
one for each smile section-win 90
hack on jobs. Equipped with teams,
graders. drags and other necessary
equipment, the patrolmen will put in
their *entire time again this season
mending and smoothing their sections.
Patrol and maintenance operations
on the trunk system last year not only
spread early benefits under the Bah
cock Plan to every part Of the state
but were generally credited with a big
share of the noticeable Improvement.
The organization of this force Of more
than 1000 men, nearly all living on or
near their: road sections, in less than
so days last season was rated one of
the remarkable accomplishments under
the new plan. Some changes have
been effected in the maintenance per
sonnel, according to highway officis
and greater efficiency is expected this
year. r.. =,
Patrolmen have orders to serve all
highway users as if they were direct
employers. People meeting. mishap or
trouble on the trunk routes may call on
the patrolmen for reasonable assistance
which must be given without charge,
according to the highway bulletin.