New Ulm review., 1922-06-07
THREATENED CUT
DELAYS PROGRAM
CONGRESS is PLAYING HORSE
WITHsAPPRoPRIATIoN FOR
ROAD WORK.
I TRIP THRU EAST CENTRAL
STATES SHOWS MINNESOTA
MUST HUSTLE.

STATES SHOWS SMlNNESOTA
MUST HUSTLE.
!. Both branches Of congress desirous
OF credit attaching to federal highway
aid, the proposed legislation is tied
up in conference committee, accord
ing to advices from Charles M. Bah
cock, state highway commissioner,
and J. H. Mullen, assistant commits
sioner and chief highway engineer,
after visit to Washington.
New Ulm and vicinity are interested
because OF the direct bearing Of federal
highway aid on the plan to improve
trunk routes in this and all other
sections Of Minnesota. Minnesota has
received for the present federal busi-
ness year $1,42O,000 Of highway aid
voted last November and used in the
winter work to relieve the unemploy-
ment situation. Hope was enter
tanned that another like appropriation
night be made available this year, but
that is doubtful now, officials report,
and may depend upon action this
month in congress. The Senate is dis
posed to make a direct appropriation
for this year, it is said, but the House
is determined to authorize one to come
next year. The result may be that
Minnesota's federal aid allotment this
year may be $1,42O,0O0, or only half
Of that Of other years and the road pro-
gram will be delayed.
Other States Leading.
Travelling east by automobile, Com
missioners Babcock and Mullen in
spected highway improvements and
methods in Iowa, Ohio, Illinois, Penn
sylvania, Maryland and New York.
They report that Minnesota must fight
to keep in the front rank of good roads
maintenance states. This state is
paying more attention to adequate
drainage, wide, elevated curves and
other modern construction details than
is the average state, they add. The
officials are expected to return about
June Is to ST. Paul.
Overhead Expenses Low.
Seven per cent overhead expense
reported by highway departments in
many other states and among we'll
managed private business concerns, the
Minnesota highway department oper-
ated during the first year OF the Bah
cock program recently ended at slight
ly over five per cent for administration,
engineering, superintendence and all
other charges to general overhead.
That is the showing on official
figures in the highway bulletin this
week. It was given out, highway
officials said, upon inquiries indicating
that false reports that much OF the
automobile and other funds never went
on the roads are again being circulated.
''The figures are official state records
and there is no going behind them, :
said J. T. Ellison, assistant state high
way commissioner, and the depart
ment naturally takes pride in this
favorable comparison with the records
made by The average highway CON-
mission and private enterprise.
"Headquarters expenses, salaries OF
executives and employees here, the
building rental and general Office ex- .
penses, are more than covered by the
$3.50, 900 annual fund for administra-
ton, but the approximate 5 per cent
takes in surveying, engineering and all
other items Of general expense.
..Overhead on new construction
averages about 6 per cent in Minnesota
3 per cent for surveys and plans ano
8 per cent for superintendence on the
work. Maintenance supervision fig
ures about IL per cent. That thu
average is trifle over five per cent i
due to the use Of the biggest part o
funds for new construction carryin,
the higher rate. :
Capitalization Of general operation
in the new building rented by the high
way department in st. Paul, th'
officials said, makes possible a goo,
share Of the reduction in overhead ex
penses.
ONE. HUNDRED LIVES
- ...l 4 Ger, IN COL IcInAI