The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-02-08
COMPARE The STATE
And U. S. ROAD DATA
BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS COM
PILES INFORMATION ON
HIGHWAY OUTLAWS
TO MEET In ST. PAUL
MINNESOTA HIGH, BUT BELOW
AVERAGE FOR AVAILABLE
HIGHWAY FUNDS

Minnesota's standing among GOOD
roads states is disclosed IN tabula-
tions from a questionairs sent to all
states by the United States bureau
of public roads.
The results are held of special IN
terest throughout the state now tina
highway proposals are among the
most important awaiting the atten-
ton of the state legislature.
Findings in the government sur
vey are spread on many large sheet
and summarized here:
Several states with larger high
way funds available have been able t.
top Minnesota in meeting federal aid
on the dollar-for-dollar basis, the re-
port shows. ..E
Minnesota used $780, 900 of curren'
federal aid on improvements extend
ing over 1,O26 miles, while Iowa uset
S3,53O,OOO on 1,465 miles; Tennessee
>$5,615, O38 on 1877 miles; Texas, S4,-
150,335 on TAO miles; Mississippi, 81,
167,144 on 230 miles; Pennsylvania
S3,365, 90 on 1913 miles; North Caro-
lima, $3,OOO,OOO on 800 miles, ano
Virginia SCOT, $50 on 24S miles. The
showing indicates that Minnesota i
building neither as much nor as ex-
pensive roads as the other states
mentioned.
The government inquiry disclosed
that only four states in the uniol
today have smaller funds than Mime
sofa with which to meet federal aid.
They are the smallest states-Dele
ware, New Hampshireand Rhode Is
land.
Minnesota has available now only
the actual sum necessary to mattel
the 1928 Federal aid apportionment
for new construction. On the othe
hand New York has SIP, 723,542 in its
highyaw fund to put against Federal
aid, Texas has $13,919,134, Missouri
$780, 900, Illinois $7,950,000 and, the
government figures show, 3S other
states have highway construction cash
on hand and in immediate prospect il
amounts far exceeding that of Mime
sofa.
Minnesota highway maintenance
averages are compared with those O.
the other states as follows:
Road Minnesota Other
Earth, $81 $235
Graveled 12O 507
Paved, 127 234
Higher cost of gravel road main
tenance in Minnesota is attributed t.
the heavy traffic using many gravel
surfaced sections, those which state
highway officials maintain should be
hard-surfaced to stop waste of money
for excessive upkeep. Gravel sur
face maintenance on some parts of the
Minnesota trunk highway system is
costing more than $4,000, mile, it is
said, while paving would cost less an
afford more satisfactory service.
The general consensus of opinion
among state highway experts is tina,
not more than $500 a mile annually
should be spent for maintenance on
any road. Several point out that
where traffic exceeds 1000 or 1900
vehicles a day, possible savings on
maintenance and gasoline consump-
ton will pay the whole cost of paying
with interest in from IL to Is years.
The government report shows that
in Minnesota the soil, weather and
others as well as traffic conditions are
considered in reaching decisions on the
need and kind of highway improve
ments. Also that untreated gravel
surfacing usually carries 500 vehicles
a day without difficulty and that as
high as 1,400 were carried on a
treated gravel-surface but not salts
factorily in the spring.
Supervision of highway work in
GLIDING engineering, superintendent
inspection and SO forth is placed at
APT per cent in Minnesota, against
a .83 per cent average in 81 other
states.
Minnesota makes many surveys to
find the best routes for trunk high
ways, yet, the government figure
show that it spends but SIPS mile
for surveys and $50 mile for plans,
compared with $130 for SURVEYS and
$63 for plans on the average in g
states. The Minnesota total of $185 a
mile for both surveys and plans is
S45 mile less than that in other
states listed in the bulletin.
ARE ENJOYING VISIT
A letter received this week by the
Herald from John Boutell states that