The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-15
Mr.. Moe on Highways

In another column of this newspaper, a rather eX
tended article is published from the pen Of I. G. Moe
Valley City, member Of the State Highway commission
Whether he speaks ex-cathedra for the commission i
not known at this writing.
He opens his article by quoting Mr.. Frahm, chief en-
gineer of the department., rs asserting that other states
spend approximately as much on maintaining pavement
as this state spends on maintaining gravel.
Commissioner Babcock of Minnesota declares in several
recent interviews that the saving between gravel mainte-
nance and paving maintenance is so considerable that tn.
economy will go a long way to financing a bond issue for
hard surface roads.
OF course the Frahm statement may mean that North
Dakota is not spending enough on the maintenance of
its gravel roads and II it did as good a job as does Min
nesota. the comparison between costs here and in Min
nesota would prove the conclusions of Mr.. Babcock to be
sound. It Is generally admitted in most places that the
cost to maintain gravel roads is much higher than the
upkeep Of the paved road. That would seem almost oh.
vious to even q layman. 1t is then apparent that North
Dakota's expenditure in gravel maintenance is not high
enough to keep the gravel roads up to standards MAIN
tanned in other states.
Therefore the assertion made by Mr.. Frahm really
carries little weight as the experience in many highway
departments is the opposite and the great argument for
paved highways is less cost of maintenance.
Either MI. Frahm or MI. Babcock is wrong. Mime
sofa has much more highway experience than North Da-
kcta and most fair minded persons would rather favor
the state which has a basis for comparison between
gravel maintenance and the upkeep of paved roads. This
is a matter for the study of the legislature before any
makeshift policies are adopted touching the future road
program in this state.
Mr.. Moe, however, challenges Mr.. Frahm's figures on
the cost per mile of gravel maintenance. He places it In
some instances as slightly under $500 per mile. while MI.
Moe cites figures as high as $2.01114 per mile.
These figures, if accurate, are potent arguments for
immediate paving operations in this state.
Then against the lower cost Of gravel highway upkeep
is the reduced cost Of operating a car over a paved as
against a gravel road. This is something to be conSid-
cred seriously when experts declare that it costs a cent
a mile less to operate over a paved than a gravel road.
That saving to the public would go quite a way to meet
ing tond issue financing.
The Tribune disagrees with Nj. Moe, however, in his
scheme of financing. 1t is hardly fair to the north and
the west of the state to ascribe to them the selfish at
titude he does. He writes:
They (meaning north and west) realize the first paw
ing must come in the eastern part of the state and the
western and northern part will not vote for it,
Yes they will, If assured that sufficient bonds are
authorized which in time will mean a paved highway
from Fargo to the west line and from the northern to
the southern boundary.
ITO leave the matter to county financing will delay the
good roads program in this state most seriously. The
building and financing of the great arterial highways
Is a task for the state and for our state highway de-
partment which, as the Tribune has said before, has
plenty OF good talent to put across a real road program
If given funds and legislative support.
The legislature should face the issue squarely. It will
be no harder for the state to finance bond issues than for
some OF the smaller political subdivisions, and North
Dakota wants to keep step with her ~neighbors.
With the proper educational campaign and the hand
ling OF a bond issue for good roads at a special election
many Of the objections which MI. Moe sees now will fade
into thin air.