The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-01-14
Total Contract Cost Of Highway
Work For Year Reached
$3,5oo,661

The state highway department dur
ing 1891 was called on to handle NOR
construction projects than in an.
previous year in the history Of tn,
department, according to the annua
report Of the highway commission
filed with Governor George F. Shafel
by Chief Highway Commissioner A
D. McKinnon. The total contrac
cost of the work was $3,500,6 61.
This resulted. the report states
from the emergency federal aid avail
able together with the increased fed
eral aid
At the close of 1880 there were un-
completed projects carried over into
1881 for 352 miles grading: 45.8 miles
regarding: 100 miles surfacing: one
mile re-graveling, and 10 miles oil
mix surfacing.
The total cost of the work under
contract at that time was $1,699. 49,
q. Work done and money expended
covered $536,068.16, leaving the actual
money carried over, $1,163, 1856.
During the last year the depart
ment let to contract, up to Dec. l.
474 miles Of grading. 98.6 miles re-
grading, 773 miles OF gravel surfacing,
96 miles resurfacing, 1872 miles re-ol!
sub-grade, SO miles oil mix surfacing,
and liz miles concrete paving.
All the work under contract Jan. /.
1880, ard also a large portion OF the
work let to contract this year was
complete, the report says. Completed
work consists of 807 miles gravel sur
facing. 80 miles gravel resurfacing.
1872 miles oil subgrade resurfacing,
573 miles grading, ia miles regarding,
So miles oil mix surfacins and liz
miles concrete pavement. The final
payments covering this completed
work amounted to $500.020.65.
Lists Uncompleted Work
Uncompleted work as Of Dec. I.
1881, included 253 miles grading, 80
miles regarding, 160 miles gravel sur.
facing. and so miles oil mix surfac-
Ing. The present contract cost OF
this work is s1,262,O8483. of which
$477.564.61 has been paid for, leaving
q balance due OF $784, 5000 OF which
the states portion is $183, 657.59.
It is estimated in the report that
highway construction work furnished
employment for $500 men per month.
the men being employed on the aver
age of 80 days a month.
"The year 1881 saw North Dakota's
first paving project Of any SIZE" NC
Kinnon comments in the report This
was an liz miles project on U. S.
Highway No. 10 from Fargo to Maple
ton. This was the first paving project
that was handled entirely under de-
partment supervision.
THE specifications provided that
the concrete should be Of the crush
ing strength Of $500 pounds per
square inch.s In order to insure this
strength the testing department was
Instructed to have cylinders taken
several times each day and tests made
of them. From the tests it was found
that the strength averaged 1900
pounds.
The testing department tests all
materials such as sand. gravel, ce-
ment. road oils. concrete and CORFU
gated culverts. guard rails. ETC.. enter
ing in the construction OF our high
ways. These tests are passed on and
accepted by the Bureau Of Public
Roads. The Bureau Of Public Roads
recently passed ruling requiring all
state testing laboratories to have
their cement testing equipment
checked This was done and the
laboratory is being equipped to con-
form to their requirements.
Purchased Gravel Land
Since the highway commission In
the first part of 1929 inaugurated the
policy of the state purchasing gravel
by the acre. instead Of by the yard as
done previously, the department has
purchased 1899 acres of gravel land,
distributed through the state, the re-
port says.
The average acreage in pit Is
given as approximately So acres ana
the average cost per acre, including
right of way to and from the pit IS
$40 per acre. or an average Of three
cents per cubic yard Of gravel.
This policy has resulted in a mark
ed saving to the department." the
chief commissioner comments. TT
also has provided great amount OF
gravel for the states future use In
resurfacing work"
The cost per mile during 1881 for
all types of highway construction
complete averaged. the report says, as
follow:
Grading. including culverts and
bridges. S3.36691.
Regarding. including culverts ana
bridges. s2,791.78.
Gravel surfacing. including cost of
gravel. 1913.
Re-graveling. including cost Of
garvel. 1918.
Subgrade oil treatment $l.0O0.83.
Oil mix. including extra gravel,
$4,60c.
Concrete paving, $4,000
A total of 1892 miles of the state
and federal highway system in North
Dakota has been graded and sur
faced. and 1924 miles earth graded.
the report shows. Miles of graded
projects now under contract for gravel
surfacing total 1877.
1.-THE highway commission believes"
says the report. ut is very important
that all projects be gravel-surfaced
within year after grading is COM
pleted as 1t Is sound economy to pro-