The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-13
PR0BERS WILL
INQUIRE INTO
LOCAL PAVING
Mandan Road Paving and
Project East of Bismarck
Are Brought Up
2 ON WITNESS STAND
Myhre and Gettleman Called
Latter Repeats War
Sales Assertion
2 ON WITNESS STAND

G.. A. Myhre, assistant chief en-
eineer of the Highway Commission,
and w. +. Gettleman, superintendent
of the equipment department, were
called to the witness stand by the
Highway Commission investigating
committee of the House today, and
questioned concerning various ac-
tivities of the department. F. j..
Graham, committee counsel, continu-
ed to draw out information showing
methods of operation of the depart
! menU in part the basis for future
questioning and conclusions by the
committee, in relation to other testi-
mony.
Mr.. Myhre, the first witness, was
asked concerning the plans and spec
ifications for the paving. job from
the Missouri River bridge west, for
o.395 miles, between Bismarck and
Mandan. He produced plans and
specifications, which had been sub
poenaed. The paving, he asserted,
was a standard specifications.
Original plans and specifications,
by Black and Griffin of Mandan. On
further questioning he said this was
before Mr.. Black became chief en-
gineer of the Highway Commission.
$4,000 Appropriation
Asked concerning the $4,000 ap-
preparation bill to complete payment
on this job. Mr.. Myhre said the final
estimate of the work had been ap-
proved, but he did not know whether
the auditing board had approved it
The 100000 was to be taken from
the bridge fund of the Highway Com
mission, but an opinion of the At
torney-General held this was not q
part of the Missouri river bridge
project. The probable life of the
paving he estimated at Is to %
yea,s, depending on traffic and main.
tenance.
Intention of the committee to in
quire into the proposed paving pro-
ject from the end Of Bismarck S
Main street to the penitentiary and
beyond was shown, when Mr.. Gra-
hsal asked of whom he could get
plans and specifications for this pro-
iect. The contract for this has not
been let, he said
Methods of Work
The committee spent much time
p&nquiring into various methods OF
= the highway work.
Mr.. Myhre was asked if he had q
Highway Commission automobile
and he said he used Buick winter
enclosure car. He said the policy
was to provide head engineers with
cars and an annual report rendered
The Highway Commission provided
gas, oil and repairs, he said. He
declared the car was used only in
Highway work. He also said he used
his own car for year and halt
and did not charge the Highway
Commission for it.
Mr.. Gettleman was later recalled
tn ask concerning handling of sur
plus war equipment. He repeated
his assertion that government regu'
lations prohibited sale of. the, mater
ials. and that sale had been ordered
hy Mr.. Black, who has asserted there
is authority for it.
He said Representative Helbing OF
Morton county, he understood, had
truck trailer on his farm and did
not know of any payment being
made for it.
He was asked again concerning
three cars used by T. R. Atkinson OF
Bismarck, Dodge car, truck and
d Cadillac car. Asked concerning the
value of the cars he put the Dodge at
5000 to $3.50, the truck $3.50 and the
Cadillac SITS.
"You know Mr.. Atkinson said he
would not pay over $500 for them?
he was asked.
"Yes."
''Do you think that is about hall
the value?"
"Not more than half"
The Cadillac car. he said, was de-
livered in his absence, presumabl!
on orders of Mr.. Black.