The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-10-17
COMMISSIONERS ARE
WRATH DELAY ON
sixth STREET JOB
Express Dissatisfaction With
Way N. D. Highway De-
partment Has Acted
PROJECT AGAIN HELD UP
City Fathers Want Thorough
fare Resurfaced Under
Federal Works Law

e0Qe1dl WORKS Law
Expressing dissatisfaction with the
attitude Of the state highway COM
toward the letting OF public
works projects that would have fur
ntshed work for a number Of men on
the relief roll, Bismarck's city COM
at a meeting Monday night,
refused to adopt a resolution agree
ing to maintain Sixth street as q
federal highway If 1t was widened
for seven blocks under the federal
aid public works program.
AS q consequence the project,
which has been advertised for let
ting next Friday, Oct. 20, by the
highway department, will not be
contracted for, although bids will be
received. The commission will meet
with Highway Commissioner Frank
Vogel and H. J. Taylor. chief engi-
neer for the Federal Bureau Of Public
Roads. as soon as possible and try
to reach an agreement whereby they
will agree to maintain Sixth street II
the government will re-surface the
street with an asphalt covering, II
being pointed out that the street
has been paved for II years and will
soon need Restricting. The commits
sion felt the city would not be get
ting much for its money II 1t agreed
to maintain the street In It's present
condition.
Lenhart, Wachter Outspoken
Mayor A. p. Lenhart and Com.
missioner Paul Wachter were espe-
cially outspoken in their Dissatisfied
ton with the progress made by the
highway department in letting the
project and with its attitude on
other projects. They said the city
commission had been led to believe
work would be started during the
late summer or early fall so that q
big crew OF men could be put to
work before winter set in. thereby
taking them off the relief rolls Of the
county and city. They said the plans
had been In the hands Of the de-
partment since July IL and they felt
that four months was q long time
in which to get action. The resur-
facing Of the street was included In
the plans filed with the department
they said. but the first notice they
had that the resurfacing was not in
cluded In the specifications prepared
and approved by tNe highway de-
partment and the bureau OF public
roads was when they saw the ad-
vertisement for bids In the news
papers.
Wachter said he was Of the opin-
ion that the highway department
was not playing fair with the city and
that it was holding out on the
amount Of money allotted to Bis
marck by the United States govern.
ment SO that the state could charge
the paving Of the loop on the capitol
grounds against the allotment allow
ed the city.
Rolierty Explains
Research Engineer ]. H. Roherty
o. the highway department, who wa
present, explained that plans and
specifications for the project had
first been sent to Devils Lake to tho
federal public works committee fol
its approval and then to the Bureau
Of Public Roads In Washington FOL
Its approval after being prepared BY
the highway department and that !,
had all required lot OF. time before
the necessary approval could be pro-
cured. City Engineer T. r. Akin.
son asked Roherty II 1t wasn't true
that the plans had only been sent
to the bureau Of public roads within
the last two weeks and he admitted
that was fact.
The status Of the project al
present Is that the highway depart.
ment will call for bids Friday but
no contracts can be let until the city
agrees to maintain the street after
it Is widened. This It will not agree
to do unless It Is resurfaced. II IN
agreement can be reached with the
highway department and the United
States Department Of Public Roads
for Restricting, the contract can be
let this fall.
Dick Schneider. proprietor Of 81 Taxi
line. complained against allowing
some taxi lines to operate without
license when his company and
others had already paid their license
to the city and furnished indemnity
bonds q required by the ordinance
He vas informed that the police de-
partment had been notified to ar
rest anyone found violating the ordi-
nance.