U.S. Approval Still Needed On Road Building
Program of Highway Department
Half of Contract Price on Gravel, Grading,
to go for Labor
January 23, 1936 -- Foster Co., is in line for 177,800 man-hours of relief labor on its roads and on railroad overpasses at Glenfield and Carrington, according to the WPA road program recommended to the federal government by the state highway department.
The highway department estimates that 31,500 hours of labor will be required on the Soo overpass at Carrington; 51,700 hours on a Great Northern overpass southeast of Glenfield; 38,500 hours of labor on 8 miles of grading and incidentals for highway No. 281 through Foster County; and 56,100 hours for grading and gravelling 6.6 miles of U. S. No. 52 Carrington West.
The highway department warns the interested communities that state approval does not absolutely assure the work. These are the jobs recommended by the highway commissioner, and they must be approved by the Public Works administration.
Other work suggested for this area, and the estimated man-hours of labor are:
Great Northern overpass southeast of New Rockford on No. 281: 48,500 hours.
Great Northern overhead pass at Hannaford, Griggs County: 39,800 hours.
Soo Line underpass at Harvey: 146,200 hours.
Pedestrian subway at Northern Pacific, Valley City: 22,888 hours.
Pedestrian subway at Northern Pacific, Jamestown: 200,000 hours.
Overpass at Midland Continental east of Jamestown: 46,000 hours.
Grade and gravel north of Jamestown, U. S. No. 281: 91,300 hours.
Eddy County, 5.96 miles grade and incidentals, U. S. No. 281: 26,500 hours.
McClusky north, 5.2 miles grade and gravel: 29,300 hours.
On the grading and gravelling jobs, the government requires that for every 90¢ of the contract, one hour of labor shall be furnished. The wage scale set by the state highway department is 40¢ an hour for common labor; 50¢ for intermediate labor and 65¢ for skilled labor. On the general run of jobs, the hourly cost of all labor will average about 45¢. In other words, about one-half the contract price must be used for labor. Balanced against the labor costs are the price of all materials, culverts, steel, cement, equipment operating costs, interest on investment, depreciation, bond, freight, workmen's compensation insurance and other costs.
On the average, this will mean using double the ordinary number of men on earth grading jobs; and on gravelling jobs the highway department estimates it will require three times the ordinary number of men. What these extra men will do is scarcely known, but they must be usefully employed.
The number of man-hours required will be shown on the bidding blanks for contractors. When the job is completed and accepted, if the contractor has not used the required amount of labor the government will deduct twice the cost of the unfurnished tabor from their payment to the contractor.
The public may look on these jobs as inefficient and wasteful, according to the North Dakota Road Builders Magazine (the official publication of the state highway department), but the sponsors of this work consider it chiefly as a relief program, and the roads that are built are a secondary consideration. The WPA plan is expensive and inefficient, but the relief angle is the governing factor.
On the grade separation program (overpasses and underpasses) this man-hour requirement has been removed, so a normal crew of men can be used on these jobs.
North Dakota has six million dollars for its WPA program. The state could secure another two million dollars of regular federal road aid by matching the money 50-50 with state funds; but they cannot furnish the state's share of money. Under that program, the labor requirements would not be so drastic.
In choosing locations for the railroad overpasses and underpasses, the federal government requires allocation of U. S. money according to the mileage of each railroad line within the state. In choosing these sites, the state highway department had to overlook some railroad crossings with heavy traffic and grant overpasses to other lines with fewer trains and lighter highway traffic; but the completed state plan shows that the large majority of heavy traveled roads will be protected.
January 9, 1936 - The school building has been redecorated during the vacation, a WPA crew doing the work.
Monagin Elected President;
Ira Sharpe Secretary and Treasurer
Everett E. Monagin, superintendent of schools, wais elected president and Ira Sharpe secretary-Treasurer. Two vice presidents and a board of directors will be elected at the next meeting, February ??.
A novel officer of the new organization is a "Tail Twister" whose job is to attend all meetings and act as an emissary of good will. Ed Anderson, local cafe operator, was elected to this position.
The object of the organization is to help make Glenfield township and the village of Glenfield a more progressive community and sell the idea of cooperation and fellowship, not only to local residents but to others in the surrounding territory.
A feature of the club will be an official bulletin, the "Glenfield Booster", published twice a month and mailed to members two or three days before each meeting.
Regular semi-monthly meetings will be held, fashioned after other service club luncheons. A short program and the singing of a few snappy songs will be a part of each meeting. The annual membership dues are two dollars. The membership roll is expected to increase materially at the next meeting if weather conditions improve. Those who attended the organization meeting and those who attend the first regular meeting will be considered charter members. The following attended the first meeting: Ed Anderson, Ira Sharpe, Andrew Sharpe, Everett Monagin, Henry Hendrickson, R. B. Paulson, W. Hoggarth, W. R. Bronough, William Alley, Alfred Loken, Merl Posey, Leroy Alfson, Kenneth Lampert, Arnold Hendrickson, H. Promhus, V. Hanson, Mike Hofmann, C. W. Smith, Ralph Glassner and Keith McDaniel.
March 5, 1936 -- Caroline Soma of Glenfield was one of two 4-H club members in North Dakota who received a citation from the Izak Walton League for the high character of their game conservation work during 1935. The other state winner was Everett Barta of Kidder County.
Both young people will receive a set of outdoor books known as "The Library of Pioneering and Woodcraft." Mr. Barta and Miss Soma were both delegates at the North Dakota conservation camp held last fall in the Badlands near Medora where 60 4-H boys and girls were present. The 4-H clubs have taken up game conservation as a part of their state-wide program, cooperating with the state game and fish department and other organizations in protecting and winter feeding game birds.
Commercial Club Will Place Big Sign
at Highway at North Edge of Town
March 5, 1936 - The first regular meeting of the newly organized Glenfield Commercial Club was held Monday evening. The election of officers was completed including two vice presidents, A. I. Sharpe, and William Bronaugh; and a board of directors, Lars Walen, Henry Hendrickson, R. B. Paulson, Alfred Loken, and W. A. Hoggarth. E. E. Monagin, elected president at the organization meeting, and A. I. Sharpe, are also on the board by virtue of their offices.
The club went on record to sponsor a Junior Game Warden organization. Victor Hanson briefly described the plan and was appointed chairman of a committee to make arrangements for the organization of such a junior unit.
The Commercial Club will have a large sign placed at the Intersection of highways 20 and 7 at the north edge of town. "The biggest little town in Foster County" was the slogan adopted by the club. Tom Christenson made a short talk on the value of a small town commercial and service club.
Entertainment was furnished by Dagney Ordahl and Barbara Culver who sang a number of duets. Joyce Johnson, a high school senior, is the official club pianist.
The following new members signed up: Pete Hanson, Albert Peterson, LeRoy Johnson, Thos. Christensen, Nels Nyberg, Mike Hofmann, Herman Johnson, Lars Walen, W. R. Vandewerker, George Gutknecht, Clifford Taylor, Ervin Skundberg, Francis Johnson, James McDaniel and James Bronaugh.
Glenfield's Young Game Warden
Elects Set of 1936 Officers
April 16, 1936 - The Junior Game Warden League elected officers at a meeting held on April 6 at the school house: president, Arthur Engstrom; vice president, Arthur Anderson; secretary, Ernest Johnson, and treasurer, John Footitt. Victor Hanson is the boys' advisor.
Community Program Held -
The Community club drew a good crowd and a good program was rendered. The numbers were: a "skit" by Arthur Engstrom and Allen Loken; a number by the girls sextette; duet, Doris Michaelson and Kathleen Lewis; reading by Hazel Holmen; a debate on the question "Resolved, that the Triple A is a benefit to the American Farmer," by Arthur Anderson, Harold Walen, Stella Sharpe, Clarence Larson, Arthur Engstrom and Nora Simenson. Alice Nyberg gave a talk on the work of the Legion Auxiliary.
George Young Died -
Word was received here on Saturday that George Young, a pioneer of this community, had passed away at Sutton. Mr. Young was among the early day settlers and still owns the section of land farmed by C. P. Larson south of town.
Bride Given Shower -
On Friday afternoon a party of ladies gathered at the Engstrom home the occasion being a miscellaneous shower for Mrs. Gust Erickson, a recent bride. Mrs. Erickson received many pretty and useful gifts.
CCC Boys to Fort Snelling -
Word has been received here that Mensal Watne and Earl Halvorson, who left for a CCC camp a week ago, are at the present time stationed at Fort Spelling, Minnesota.
OTHER GLENFIELD NEWS -
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Anderson entertained the boys basketball team and the faculty members at a 7 o'clock dinner Tuesday evening.
Arthur Anderson, Edith Johnson and Raymond McDaniel drove to Grand Forks Thursday to get Glenn McDaniel and his boy friend, university students, who spent their vacation with Glenn's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James McDaniel, west of town.
Carl and Francis Johnson drove to Valley City Thursday to bring Leona, Dorothy and Eileen Johnson, Leona Halvorson and Leila Hendrickson, students at the college, home for the Easter vacation.
Mr. and Mrs. E. Monagin were visitors in Jamestown Friday.
Bernice Sharpe left on Thursday evening for St. Paul to spend her vacation with relatives.
Merle Linn spent her vacation at her parental home at Jamestown.
Marjorie Footitt, Doris Sharpe and Billy Culver, all of Jamestown, spent their Easter vacation at their respective homes.
Mr. and Mrs. Lester Roach of Aberdeen, South Dakota, were visiting Mr. and Mrs. E. Monagin and other friends here Friday and Saturday.
Ira Sharpe who was at Cooperstown all last week taking treatment for a throat ailment, arrived home Saturday but is still confined to his home. His friends hope he will soon be able to be out again.
Florence Thompson who teaches at Oberon, arrived Friday to spend her vacation at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thorval Thompson.
Leroy Alfson spent his vacation at his parental home at Binford.
Mr. and Mrs. George Evans of Nortonville were Easter guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. Gutknecht.
Clarence Larsen drove to Valley City Saturday and was accompanied home by his sister, Hannah, a student at the teachers college.
March 26, 1936 - Glenfield was let out of solitary confinement last Wednesday only to be shut in again by Monday night's snow storm.
Work Horses $40, Grade Cows $30,
Basis of 1936 Taxation
April 2, 1936 - Getting blanks, supplies and instructions for the 1936 tax work, 16 of Foster County's assessors held their annual meeting yesterday at the Carrington court house. County Auditor J. B. McWethy conducted their meeting, and Ole Stefferud of the hail insurance department was a speaker.
in order to get a uniform assessment over the County, a scale of average values was set for the foster County assessors. At the individual farm their values will be up or down from this basis.
Horses under one year old were given an average value of $10, horses one to two years old $15, horses two to three years old $25, work horses three years and over $40, purebred stallions $150, grade stallions $40, grade cows $30, purebred cows $40, grade bulls $30, purebred bulls $40, calves $5, yearlings $15, other cattle $25, sheep $3, swine 6¢ a pound, chickens 20¢ each and turkeys $1.
Assessors who attended yesterday's meeting were William A. Johnson of Eastman, J. O. Paczkowski ? McKinnon, J. W. Johnson of Bucephalia, Ernest Brandt of Bordulac, J. W. Shearer of Melville, Frank ?bus of Longview, Peter A. Pierson of Glenfield, .T. Jones of Haven, John Ferguson of Rose Hill, am Nicolson of Carrington, N. E. Morter of Wyard, Bennett Nerby of McHenry, Olaf Edwardson of ?ordmore, James Roaldson of Estabrook, August ?ltschko of Birtsell and Paul Christianson of McHenry village.
Townships, Agricultural Agent
Arrange for Poison Supply
April 2, 1936 - Continuing a program that was started a number of years ago, poison will again be spread this year in an effort to control gophers.
The project this year is being handled directly by the township clerks and the office of the agricultural adjustment agent.
The poison will be mixed in Carrington under the supervision of W. P. MacDonald, and will be distributed to the townships at cost. It was intended that the bait would be mixed before now as the gophers are starting to come out, but a shortage of strychnine at the state office has held up the mixing temporarily. However, the strychnine is expected this week and preparation of the bait will begin immediately. Townships that have ordered poison will be notified as soon as mixing is completed. Any township which has not ordered bait yet can still do so and be assured of a supply.
Last year a very successful campaign was carried on by the agricultural adjustment agent in cooperation with the county commissioners. Sixteen of the eighteen townships ordered a total of 29 bushels of poison. Excellent results were reported in all cases where bait was tried.
December 12, 1936 - Don't forget there will be a special Christmas service at the community Church, Sunday, December 20, at 3:30 p.m. Special music has been arranged. Everybody welcome.
Liquor Store Opens -
Hard Liquor went on legal sale here Monday December 14. In the display room at the J. H. Service station with J. B. Johnson the licensed off sale dealer.
Source: Glenfield History 1886 – 1987 Page 73