Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-01
URGES UNIFORM
REGULATIONS
OF TRAFFIC
State Engineer Thinks Next
Legislature Should Pass
Law On Subject.

that the next legislature be given the
problem of providing uniform traffic
regulations on all highways In the
state is contained in the annual re-
port OF W. Fl. Robinson, state engi-
neer. in which the engineer points out
the growth of the importance Of high
ways and the necessity Of control to
lessen accidents and make travel
easier.
Recommendation also is made that
the railroad and highway commission
be given power to force reasonable
compliance with orders to abolish
grade crossings also Is made. It is
pointed out that many states a
such a law. One large railway system
in the state has adopted a policy OF
cooperation in this regard, endeavor-
ing to remove grade-crossings where
ever there is great danger. the state
engineer says, while another large
system has consistently opposed X
benditure of sums to remove such
dangers.
Reviewing the highway laws. of the
state. Mr.. Robinson urges that the
state highway commission be given
control over portions of a state high
way lying within the limits of a city;
that provision be made for adequately
financing maintenance of state high
n hat n law he enacted to
meet with the federal law to become
effective in a few years providing that
federal aid must be matched through
the state highway commission.
The U. S. Bureau Of Public Reads
requires the state commission to make
provision for maintenance of federal
aid roads, it is pointed out, and the
commission now has no authority or
AdAnllafa funds IN do ca IT, {l,,~~ 80
properly maintain the. roads may re-
suit in the u. S. bureau declining to
furnish federal aid, it is stated. Il
Mr.. Robinson declares it is self-exi-
dent that under the new federal Mw
government the distribution Of high
way money h state must levy a gen.
eral tax on gasoline, automobiles or
other property to provide a state fund
to match the federal aid.
Wants Funds For Trucks.
The legislature also is asked to pro-
vide finances for handling the 800
trucks and 80 tractors given the state
from the war surplus Of the govern
nent. The property is valued at s.
100000. Because the state has lacked
finance some Of the caterpillar trac-
tors have been rented to contractors.
and complaint has resulted, he states.
The growth of the work of the
highway commission also is pointed
cut. The office Of state engineer was
established in the state primarily to
look after irrigation problems, but the
state engineers duties now are taken
up chiefly with the highway commits
sion It Is stated. Declaration also is
made that salaries provided for the
engineering force of the state are
much less than those Of other states.
Expenses Of the highway commits
sion have grown since it's establish
nent. The commission spent $780,
74OsS4 from July l, 1920, to June 80.
1921. and $1,0O3, 992.s2 from July 1.
1921, to June 80, 1922, having a bal
4nce on July 1892, Of 706,562.39.
OF the amount expended in the past
year $58S,376.S1 was spent on the
construction of the Missouri river
bridge at Bismarck.
Citing the Recommendations Of the
recent state irrigation congress-, Mr..
Robinson points out that there is a
demand that steps be taken to fully
test the possibilities of irrigation in
the western part of the state. The
legislature should provide for three
engineers in this work. he states,
Wants Test Irrigation Farms.
accommodation is made that there
be appropriated money to establish
n or more irrigation test farms, on
which could be tested the height on
which water could be stored and other
problems connected, with small irri-
cation project. Trained men ought to
be employed on such a project-so that
they could give irrigation a thorough
test, and be able to instruct individual
farmers who might attempt irriga-
ton projects or seek t settle on irri-
cation projects undertaken by the
state.