The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-20
Highway Engineer Frahm
Explains Status of 1926
Construction Program to
County Commissioners of
State in Convention at Far
go Today

Fargo. N. D., Jan. 2O.A-A0-Al-
though ample federal aid funds are
available to finance the road con-
struction program for 1926 now pro-
jected by the state highway depart
ment. there will be shortage in
the state fund, H. C. Frahm, chief
engineer Of the highway commission,
today told county commissioners at
tending the convention Of county
commiss sinners here.
Although North Dakota has not
kept pace with some other states in
road construction, Frahm said, he
declared that notable progress had
been made and that the results were
apparent to the road users. Credit
for improvements, he said, should 0c
divided equally between the state
highway department and county COM
missioners, he said, because the state
statutes and arrangements for pro-
viding finances make them jointly
responsible.
The System on Dec. Is
On DECEMBER Is, 1926, Frahm said,
completed work on the state and fed
eral aid road system totaled 1919
miles of grading, 100 miles of gravel
ing and seven miles Of paving. Pro-
jects under contract or more or less
completed total 376 miles of grading
and 331N miles of gravcling. Some
have not been started and others are
95 per cent completed. Work which
has been surveyed and for which
plans arc being drawn comprise 787
miles Of grading and $50 miles Of
Yraveling. Requests still are com.
ing in from various county cOmnAs-
sions but all work mot now survey
cd will be left over until 1927, Frahm
said. Such projects, however, will
be surveyed In 1926.
A recent apportionment of federal
aid funds made $l,193,720 available
for road work in North Dakota. I'm
der the federal rules the work must
be under agreement by 1928.
The shortage in the state highway
fund. Frahn said, will result from
the fact that the state will not have
enough money to match the federal
aid. Cash on hand in the state high
way fund on January Is, 1926, was
placed at $323,606.69; estimated re-
ceipts from motor vehicle registra-
tion $55O,O0O and estimated receipts
from the gasoline tax, after deduct
ing general fund and maintenance. re-
quirements, $4,000, total of $685.,
6O5.69 available to the state for use
on construction projects.
4 Against this sum Frahm placed es-
timated expenditures Of $1,257, ,O44.G8,
Of which $3l5.O44.68 represents the
states share of projects as request.
ed by county commissioners and sur
veyed.
Must Withhold Awards
In view Of the fact that the state
will lack about $334.00q Of paying it's
part of the total anticipated road
bill it will be necessary to withhold
awards of contracts on about 270
miles of grading until SO late in the
fall that no work will be done and
no payments required this year, the
chief engineer said.
Construction Of the Williston,
Sanish, Fargo and Des Lacs lake
bridges are provided for by aspeciAl
bridge fund which will be sufficient
for the purpose, the. commissioners
were told.
Although there will be some in
crease in receipts in 1927, the high
way department expects no real re-
lief next year, Frahm said. The
reason, he explained, is that requests
Uy CVuutlCO OSCA1u8 ~ u0vS WVkA
done are increasing more rapidly
than the departments income.
Three possible remedies were OUT
lined. by the chief engineer to meet
the situation. One would be to re.
fuse some of the requests made by
counties. Another would be to re-
duce the states portion Of the total
cost so that instead of 50 per cent
fndnrn1 aid and lH nAr cent each
from the state and county, the pro-
portion would be IS par cent to be
paid by the county and Is per cent
81 the state. The third possibility
would be to increase the state gaSo-
line. tar from one to two cents : gall
Higher Gas Tax ssgsJsted
"Nith = two-cent gas tax all the
requests by the counties could BE-
Continued on pags thrse.)
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