The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-03-24
Contracts Already Let and
Maintenance Provided to
Equal 1921 Results
ONLY ONE REGRET IS
MADE BY DEPARTMENT
State Cannot Expand Work IN
Order to Benefit Through
Present Low Prices

New 1922 construction contracts al
ready let with yardages equalling the
1921 records made on Minnesota trunk
highways and the laws on mainten-
ance and other fixed charges reQuir-
ing conservation Of the balance OF
reduced highway funds for 1922,
Charles M. Babcock state highway
commissioner, today announced that
the last state road contract this year
has been let, barring unforeseen fnan-
cial developments. The call for bids
April 6 on projects estimated at near
ly 100000 was cancelled according
ly. IS 4 sssE. Es5,zs.. .,.aat T.
John H. Mullen, deputy commits
sioner and chief highway engineer,
Joined Mr.. Babcocks In expressing sat
isfaction that the 1922 program has
been launched more than three
months earlier than that last year
and also because equal results Will
be secured although the cut in avail
able funds is more than double the
drop in road building costs. The high
way officials voiced regrets, however,
that the state is without emergency
funds to take special advantage of the
lowest prices offered In years and
speed the building Of needed roads.
7 always striving for and taking
pride in creditable results under the
new plan, the highway department
naturally regrets that it is Obliged to
rather curtail operations instead o.
speeding the program under the most
favorable conditions now existing
said Mr.. BabcOck. Good business
Judgment. ordinarily would call fol
enlargement and expansion this sea.
son. Savings possible under present
costs would more than Offset interest
charges on borrowed money, and the
public would gain also by getting the
use of the improved roads for longer
period without additional expense. a
creditable showing is expected but
with funds limited, and decreased ID
a ration double the cut in prices, nc
new records can be hung up" So,
John H. Mullen, deputy commits
sioner and chief highway engineer
pointed out that trunk funds were
practically intact on June ! last year
owing to delays in necessary leg1sia-
tion, and for that reason were used
during, the last seven months. Funds
for 1922, however, must be spread
over twelve months, although reven-
ues are decreased and interest
charges, also uncompleted 1921 work
must be paid from them.
The effect is shown in numerous
ways and particularly in the mainten-
ance fund. Maintenance forces began
operations about June ! last year with
$2,226,OO0 to-. use, the law fixing the
amount at 40 per cent Of the annual
motor vehicle tax revenue after $780,.
900 is deducted for administration
This year spring breakup and other
early operations will take about
100000 and the maintenance fund
balance on June i will not exceed
81 sol, 900, it was officially announc.
ed. ~ III. j.: LTD :. - -.
Parallel comparisons based on OIL:
cial highway figures disclose that less
than s. will be available for actual
trunk highway work this year against
SIS inst year and the reduction Will
offset more than twice the drop In
prices: The figures were announced
. following conferences to- work out
every possible economy and spread
the maximum benefits, highway ofic-
ials asserted, and the state will gel
the biggest gain to be had on the low
costs but not, the measure which
could be hoped for.