The Bismarck tribune., 1928-08-21

nearly 500 Of these. It 10 important
each patrol section. There are now
that we have data as to the results
achieved by patrolmen and the work
done by them. We can compare
costs on maintaining dirt roads with
the costs Of other dirt roads or the
cost Of gravel roads in any way we
wish. We can divide costs for each
patrol section into 80 different items
II we wish and have done 90 for sew
eral counties 1t different times.
-. The amounts Of materials
purchased from each firm with
which the highway department does
business. These can be reanalyzed
70 show the things purchased and
the prices paid. When the original
data 10 once transferred to the
punched card we can analyze that
data from any angle.
"At present the machines are
used only for ascertaining mainten.
ance costs. some Of the things il
already has disclosed nave been of
more valuable aid to the department
than the cost Of the machine for q
year.
Change Accounting System
I'VE have cards ready for carrying
data on construction costs but must
design = numbering code first. In
due time everything done by the de-
partment will 60 on the machine
This must wait, however, until we
have completed installation Of q new
And proper accounting system ia
control expenditures and liabilities
and TO insure compliance with the
departments budget system.
"Ths machine is efficient. Cards
can Be punched at the rate Of 200 to
400 per hour. depending upon the
efficiency Of the clerk. The machine
sorts them at the rate Of $50 a min.
ute and tabulates them at the rate
OF 125 Z minute and we get five diff.
terent totals In one operation. The
sorting and tabulating machines
work faster than the human hand OF
mind. They can do the work Of six
to ten clerks.
"Mr. Lund's criticism bears di.
rectly on the policy Of the highway
department. He may not realize Il
0ut any businessman can understand
that il il necessary to have a def.
mite check on various operations il
the business 10 to operate efficient.
y. The highway department spends
almost $5,000,o 900 a year " all parts
Of the state. Its activities are wide.
ly distributed from 1 geographical
standpoint. Only by an ADEQUATE
system Of statistics can the depart.
ment heads and the highway com
mission determine where efficiency
10 greatest and where it is lacking
Or why. The real value Of the ma.
chine 10 that It automatically calls
attention Of the highway commission
to these things and permits correc,
ton where correction is necessary
Mr.. Lund might get all the infor.
nation he neeied with half the time
Of clerk paid $3.50 q month. Per.
haps he would not need much.
Other bureaus Aided
"Mr. Lund lays either his honest,
Or his accuracy open to question b,
failing to mention the revenue which
this machine brings in from Other
state departments or the servic,
performed for them. In addition t
our own work we analyze cards fol
the state health department and tn,
state workfnen's compensation bu
reau. OF course we make q charp.
I for this eervicA ana n holna "a -
duce our overhead.
I'VE are now making an analyst.
Of the motor vehicle registration.
because some Of that data is ekscn
tiAl TO us In making our budget es
Inmates. Other Information may B.
Of use to the legislature in case i
should desire to change the fe,
schedule for automobile re.;stra
tlons. We believe legislation shouh
b based upon fats instead o
tuesses. This machine eliminate
| guesswork.
"Mr. Lnnd never knew Of thes,
machines until they were instal!e,
n this department and believe h
knows nothing today regarding thei
operation or efficiency. They hav
been demonstrated to many legisla
tors, county commissioners an,
| businessmen and reports made B.
| the machine shown to these people
All were unstinted - their praise o
The machines and our efforts to re
real Business procedure. Thousan /
| o& business firms and governments