The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-10-05
STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

Previous TO the 1919 session of the
Legislature, the Congress of the Unit
ed States had made appropriations for
the construction of highways by the
respective states but with federal aid,
and under the appropriations made by
Congress up to that time there had
been or would be assigned to the state
Of South Dakota for this purpose the
sum Of $4,452, SS3.O4. In 1921 the ON
gTeSs made another appropriation for
a like purpose and Of this there was
assigned TO South Dakota 81, 2O4, 000.00,
while in 1922 appropriations were
made by Congress which would make
available for highway construction in
South Dakota approximately OF one
million dollars in each Of the years
1922, 1928 and 1924. 1t will, therefore,
be seen that up to his time Congress
has appropriated for the construction
of public highways in the several
states an amount OF money sufficient
50 that the allowances made to SOuth
Dakota total the sun OF $685., SS3.O Oh,
available for use during the period
commencing in 1919 and terminating
in 1925.
In anticipation Of these appropria-
lions by Congress, there was submit
ted at the special session OF the legis-
lature held in February 1916 an amend
ment to Article - Of II constitution,
by the adoption Of Section 9, provid-
ing for the construction and mainte-
nance of good roads and other pur-
poses, and at the regular session in
1917 there was submitted another
amendment to Section | of Article ID,
authorizing the issuance of bonds for
these purposes. Both Of these col
stitutional amendments were adopted
by the people of this state in the gen.
lively, by overwhelming majorities,
and the 1919 session of the Legislature,
~aCCeedlng to the expressed Will of the
people, through the adoption of these
constitutional amendments, passed the
law creating the State Highway De-
partment and authorized the issuance
of bonds III an amount not exceeding
six millions of dollars to meet the ap-
preparation made by Congress for the
construction Of highways in this state.
The Governor and Legislature might
have said to the Congress, We win
refuse TO accept this federal aid for
the construction OF highways in this
state and in that event this vast sum
OF 1856, SS3. O4 would have been re-
distributed to the other states and
their allowance would have been en-
HANGED to that extent. 1t was thought
TO be the part of wisdom and it was,
in fact, the part of wisdom to accept
this federal aid and to undertake the
construction of highways in South Da-
kota.
In this connection it may not be
tion for federal aid the Bureau OF
Public Roads Of the Department of
the Interior reserves the right and i'm
poses upon the state the duty Of pre-
pairing all the plans and specifications
and having them submitted and re.
ceiving the approval of that Bureau;
and it likewise requires that in con.
n~ection with each project under con.
struction the state shall supervise the
work by the employment of competent
engineers, n a construction or locat
ing crew consisting of at least one
engineer with two assistants, a rod
. ~ IN nnJ :, nho;,r,o, th,. ,>,l;,. :,
necessary to place three state EN-
ployees in each locality in charge o
one or more projects during construc
ton, for inspection and supervision
and inasmuch as there are approxim
ately 80 road contracts or highway
4 projects constantly under construc
t ton, the State Highway Department
l Is required TO employ approximate.
100 men in the field for this supervis
DRY work. The actual number Of EN-
ployees in this respect changes ant
: ~tiuctuates from time to time.
0 In this Connection it may not b.
e amiss to state in passing Hhat all roat
construction in Wisconsin, Minnesota
North and South Dakota is under thu
v immediate supervision of the Distric
y Offices OF the Federal Bureau of Roads
located at st. Paul, and that fedora
engineers are constantly in the feel
e inspecting locations, processes an
e methods OF construction and the pros
ress of the work.
n In addition to this supervisory fore
30 IL Is necessary to have and maintai
s. an engineering staff, consisting Of
chief engineer and assistants, an o
hce force and a drafting oom for tn
Of purpose OF preparing plans and spe'
n ihcations as well as an office force Il
It. the State Highway Department
8. Pierre, n not one single individu'
o. whose services are not actually ne
he essary is employed.
AT the close of the var there WI
d. apportioned by the Federal Gov
to ment to this state. and received
Or the State Highway Departmer
through the Bureau Of Public Roa'
Of OF the Department Of the Interior, Go
Ar eminent trucks. tractors. automobile