The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-10-08
State ROAD STUDY
REVEALS TOURIST
TRAVEL SHRINKING
Census Taken on Routes by De.
partment TabuIated IT,.
o9o Vehicles in Classes
TOTAL OF TRUCKS IS RISING
Link With Greatest Traffic Is
Mandan Memorial Stretch;
Fargo Street is Next
TOTAL OF TRUCKS IS RISING

Marked decrease IN the number of
foreign automobiles using North Da-
kota highways was recorded III the
annual traffic census made during the
summer, according TO a report by tic
maintenance division of the state
highway department.
Last year 81 per cent Of the vc-
hlCips counted were registered ia
North Dakota and IS per cent were
registered III other states and the
Canadian provinces.
This year the number OF car regis
tered in the state lifted slightly to
67.4 per cent. but the number OF for
cisn owned II dropped TO .i.3.
The total number of vehicles count
cd this year was Ill $3.50 OF which
IS. 7O0 were passenger automobiles
owned in North Dakota. 24.267 passcn-
&c. ears owned in other states, 267
transport line buses and 99l transport
line trucks: 1857 were trucks OF less
than two tons capacity and l.lo8 were
horse -dra"n vehicles.
Although traffic was heavier dur
ing last summer than during 4 cor
responding period in 1923. the exact
percentage Of increase has not been
estimated. II may be impossible to
obtain accurate figures OH this since
the traffic count was taken at more
places this year than last.
Build Reads at Heavy Points
The biggest increases III traffic. by
n .A. -, N,.N ,.,nNrIoj ~, oO,,N
mcrcial truck lines and privately
owned light trucks. Transport trucks
on the highways jumped from 5 per
cent Of the total in 1923 to 8 per cent
this year. Privately -owned light
trucks jumped from 5 per cent a year
ago to rs per cent this year. The
only other increase was shown IN
horsc-clraWn vehicles. This year they
constituted IL per cent Of the total,
whereas. last year, they totaled only
II per cent.
The number of heavy privately
owned trucks remained stationary at
1.6 per ccl. and the number Of trans
port buses at . per cent.
Despite the decrease In percentage
Of foreisn-oWned passenger automo-
bilcs. the state has made 6 per cent
increase in this classification since
1925. when Is per cent OF the total
number CT such vehicles were OF for
c.gn registry.
Although horse-drawn vehicles
made something OF a comeback this
year. the percentage was less than
half that of 1925 when odd Dobbin'
furnished the motive power for % per
cent of the vehicles counted.
THE traffic count is taken annually
by the highway department as a
guide to both its maintenance and
construction divisions. Arrangements
arc made in the annual budget to
spend maintenance money more free
" where traffic is heavy than where
it is light. and the traffic count also
is a factor III determining where new
roads arc to be built. the idea being
to place roads where they will bene-
fit the most people. insofar as pos
siblc.
Bridge Here Leads Traffic
A traffic censu map issued by the
highway department shows that traf-
fic is heaviest at certain designated
points near the states principal cities.
Traffic oycr the Liberty Memorial
bridge between Bismarck and MAN.
dan still leads by a wide margin. the
daily average number Of vehicles for
seven days being 1881.
Next In order arr the north road
between Fargo and West Fargo with
1919 and the road west Of Valley
City with 1.725. The south road from
Fargo to West Fargo showed a count
OF 1,34l, making the total average
number Of vehicles between Fargo and
the suburb 3.16O.
West Of West Fargo the number Of
vehicles dropped to 1862 but re-
manned above 1000 at all points I'M
til q point west of Buffalo. where it
dropped to 07O. East Of Valley City
the count was 1884 but west Of it the
count was 1.725.
On u. 8. No. 2. the main route In
the northern part Of the state. the
banner count was 1895 just west Of
Grand Forks. Just west Of Minot It
was 1853.
No other routes in the state showed
traffic counts above 1000 per day
although north and south routes near
some Of the larger cities approached
that figure.
The average daily number Of We
hicles using the Sanish bridge across
the Missouri river was 1886, while the
AVERAGE number using the Missouri
river bridge at Williston was 400.