Minnesota Highways, December 1951

              mm
mmwm
VOL.   I,  NO.  2.
1246 University Ave., St. Paul 4, Minn.
DECEMBER,   1951
Courtesy to All, Highway Watchword
Governor, Commissioner Stress Service To Public
Bridge Over St. Croix River Opened
1
Commissioner M. J. Hoffmann is shown holding the ribbon ready for the scissors
of Wisconsin Attorney General Vernon W. Thompson at the ceremony which officially
opened the new Interstate Bridge over the St. Croix River. Hudson City Attorney
Wendell A.  Petersen is holding  the  "mike" as  he  described  the  event to  the  crowd.
A long planned project delayed by World War II was
dedicated Sunday, Nov. 4, when representatives of Wisconsin
and Minnesota cut the usual ribbon opening the Interstate
Bridge between Hudson, Wis., and Lakeland, Minn.
he dedication marked the end  by  Hudson  and  scrapped for its
steel.
An explanation for the sturdy
(for then) construction of the
bridge was given out by the program planners. When the original
bridge was built it was anticipated
that trolley lines would run from
Hudson to St. Paul and to Stillwater. For that reason the bridge
was constructed to carry heavy
streetcars and rails. Although the
streetcars never ran, the forethought of the planners proved
valuable many years later.
It was estimated in 1941 that
the entire project would cost about
$2,000,000, of which $1,200,000
would be paid by the state of Wisconsin, with each state being reimbursed 50% by federal aid
highway funds. Now, ten years
later, work has been completed or
contracted for to the total of $3,-
070,000, with Minnesota's share
approximately  $1,330,000.
(Continued on pase 4)
e toll bridge formerly used on
Highway 12 over the St. Croix
River as well as the dangerous
grade and corner conditions which
existed along the route.
Despite the unseasonable cold
weather the ceremony included a
five mile long parade of marching
units, floats, passenger and commercial vehicles. After the ribbon
barrier was cut by Wisconsin Attorney General Vernon Thompson
and Commissioner M. J. Hoffmann,
a free barbeque was served to an
estimated 10,000 persons in the
River Park at Hudson.
The existing Hudson Toll Bridge
•^constructed by a private toll
'e company in 1913 and in
1917 purchased by the City of
Hudson. The revenue, averaging
between $70,000 and $117,000 per
year, b;s been used as a general
Kiue fund by that City. After
lew bridge is opened the ex-
,„j toll bridge will be removed
"Courtesy and service are
the two items we, as State employees, have to 'sell'", Governor C. Elmer Anderson told
Department heads recently.
He went on to stress the great
importance citizens of Minnesota and visitors to our slate
place on courtesy and willingness to provide information
md service.
"We of the Highway Department," said Commissioner M. J.
Hoffmann, "have the greatest opportunity of all State employees to
impress people with whom we
come in contact. Every one of us
—maintenance workers, project
engineers, survey crews, office
workers—have opportunities every
day to show we understand our
work and can answer questions put
to us. And in doing so, we must
be courteous and patient."
He cited the excellent reputation built up over the years by the
Highway Patrol, which has made
?ourtesy and service the two cor-
Defense Bond Drive Set
The kick-off of a drive for increased participation in pay-roll
deduction purchase of Defense
Bonds has been set, it was announced by Committee Chairman
J. M. Kenaley, Drivers License.
The initial period of the drive
will attempt to bring the idea of
the value of these bonds to each
member of the Central Office.
Later it is expected that the program for payroll deduction purchase will be extended to cover all
employees of the MHD.
A Savings Bonds representative
will be appointed for each division
of the department so that all employees will have the chance to
learn about the Payroll Savings
Plan. This partial payment feature
is called the only practical method
of buying Defense Bonds and contributing to the defense of our
country.
ner-stones for building an enviable
record with the motoring public.
"It is my sincere hope," Commissioner Hoffmann said, "that
every employee of the Highway
Department will make to himself
or herself a personal pledge to be
understanding, considerate, and
above all polite at all times and
under all circumstances, in our
every contact with the public which
employs us."
The Commissioner recognized
and acknowledged that, under trying circumstances or special stress,
individuals sometimes make unreasonable demands or offer unfounded criticisms.
"But each of us must constantly bear in mind," he added, "that'
the general public cannot be expected to understand all of the
complicated factors—legal, financial and physical—that are involved in the department's widespread
and varied operations.
"Most instances of discourtesy
that have been reported in recent
years have arisen when the individual citizen was laboring under
abnormal stress or anxiety, and
the highway representative contacted likewise was under excessive strain or nervous tension in his
efforts to render the best possible
service to the greatest number of
people.
"Nevertheless, no matter how
trying some complaints may be to
(Continued on page 4)
/
I        *
Make today
.   mpfyy
/buy United States
ftense Bonds