The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-06

''cf 'liph has UlaNeflailN increased
or the use made Of each car is
greater this year than last.
The census was taken at ll9 sta
tions scattered through the state.
These included the 5s places where
counts were made last year and CT
additional.
Census Shows Incrca
Although the average number of
cars passing each station was reduced
because Of the fact that new stations
were placed in less popular parts Of
the state, each Of the stations where
n census was taken last year showed
AN increase this year. The 1926
average was ST vehicles per station
per day while the 1927 average was
427
At 10 important points in the state
everyday census was made. 1t
showed total traffic volume of H.
73S ears or more than 1900 cars and
other vehicles Il day. In 1926 IA sew
cn-day census was taken at eight of
the ten points included this year. A
total OF 50,53i vehicles was listed
or an average Of 6,3l7 vehicles a
day.
Comparison of this years figures
will, those Of last year for identical
points shows uniform increase. The
liberty Memorial bridge across the
Missouri river between Bismarck and
Mandan held the lead this year as
it did last. 1928 vehicles crossing
it during the week as compared with
1886 year ago. The daily average
was 2,818 as compared with 2,422.
Average Shows Gain
At the enumeration point west of
Valley City an average of TAO cars
passed daily in 1926. This year the
daily average was 1899
Next to the Liberty Memorial
bridge in point Of traffic density is
the road between Maplcton and Cas-
sclton over which 1880 vehicles
passed during the count in 1927 as
compared with 1924 in 1926.
As in 1926. Saturday and Sunday
were the days of greatest traffic
density this year. the Sunday aver
age for the 10 stations where seven
day counts were made being l,l1s
this year as compared with l.22S
last year. The Saturday average was
1883 against 992.
Tourist Traffic Greater
Tourist traffic through the state
also continues to increase, as shown
ny counts made on the Roosevelt.
National Parks and Yellowstone
trails. These showed an increase OF
800 foreign cars as compared with
1926 and $50 cars as compared with
1925. In view Of the heavy construc-
ton going on throughout the length
Of the National Parks highway and
Roosevelt trail, this increase is re-
sardcd by the department as indica-
tive Of the traffic which these roads
will be called upon to carry when
they have been fully improved.
Much of the foreign car traffic
through the state finds a terminus
in North Dakota, the figures show
The total Of foreign cars passing
Grand Forks on single day was
179. As the counts came in from
stations west Of Grand Forks, how
ever, the number decreased until at
Willist0n it was down to rs. A sim
liar thinning out Of foreign car traf-
fic is noted along the National Parks
highway or L. s. Route No. 10 west
from Fargo. An apparent contradic-
ton is seen, however, in the fact
that more foreign cars were counted
at bismarck than at Valley. City.
Although foreign car travel over
the National Parks highway has not
increased in proportion to the travel
over some other routes, the depart
ment explains that tourist informa-
ton bureaus have been routing them
over other highways, giving as an
excuse the large amount of cOnstruc-
ton work being done on the more
nOrtherly route. At the same time
the census station at Bowman on the
Yellowstone trail has reported IA
heavy increase in foreign car travel
during each of the last three years. |
To Increase Foreign Traffic
Although it points out that it is
not the province Of the highway de-
partmcnt to encourage the use of
any particular trail, the statement
says that completion of improvements !
on U. S. Route No. 10 will doubtless
increase tourist travel over it, When
present improvement projects are
completed the road will be gravel
surfaced throughout and the distance
from Beach to Fargo will be reduced
40 miles,
OF the All cars which passed the
average station during day, 3l2
bore North, Dakota licenses and II !
had foreign tags. Buses averaged
one per station but this figure is !
held to be misleading and not indie !
alive of the number of buses in /
use since the bus operating between
Bismarck and Mandan was counted
81 times in one day and the total for
the 1l9 stations was only ISL. A
similar explanation is made of the
number Of transport line trucks
which averaged three per day per
station counted II trucks under two
tons capacity and six over two tons.
Three-Fourths N. d. Cars
On = percentage basis 1875 per cent
Of all vehicles counted were North
Dakota automobiles. Is per cent
foreign cars. 3 per cent busscs. 6
4.8 trucks under two tons.
l.3 trucks over two tons and is
horse-drawn vehicles. Comparison .
Of percentage tables for 1926 and
1926 shows that the number of do
nestle cars has shrunk slightly in !
to the total, the number
Of foreign cars has increased while (,
the number Of busses and transport
line trucks remained stationary.
Trucks under two tons increased ono
half of one per cent during the last
three years and heavier trucks made
, similar gain.
Horse-drawn vehicles grow less
eacn year. IN 1925 they totaled 2.3
per cent Of the total. In 1927 they
were onlv Is per cent.
The highway department now is
preparing traffic flow map which
Il expected to show graphically the
tendency Of travel within the state.
rhe purpose Of the traffic census,
Il Il explained, is to check the use
made Of the roads with the cost Of
them, since the depart