Minnesota Highways, May 1953

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VOL. 2, NO. 7
1246 University Ave., St. Paul 4, Minn.
MAY,  1953
We're  Proud  Of This Tribute To The  Boss
Hiway Engineering
Scholarship Set
Establishment of a special scholarship fund at the University of
Minnesota to encourage highly
, f.\i:'l'fied young men to obtain ad-
VJ HI il training in highway engi-
rnl^ing has been announced by
George A. Meskal, president of the
Minnesota Surveyors' and Engineers' Societv.
Meskal is assistant maintenance
engineer of the Minnesota Highway
Department.
What is the only active scholarship fund now in force in the Department of Civil Engineering at
the university will provide $1,000
for graduate work in advanced
highway engineering and $250 for
one or more undergraduate senior
students majoring in highway engineering.
These awards will be made annually by the society through its
scholarship committee which has
Clyde C. Colwell, assistant construction engineer of the Minnesota Highway Department, as
chairman.  Serving  with  Mr.   Col-
U are Stanley S. Watkins of St.
John Swanberg, H. G. Ni-
Wlson and George T. Byan, all
of Minneapolis.
Qualifications for candidates for
either of the scholarships are that
they must be United States citizens,
residents of Minnesota, and registered or acceptable for registration
as a senior student in the Department of Civil Engineering, Minnesota Institute of Technology, or in
the University of Minnesota graduate school. Their major work must
be in highway engineering.
Becipients are to be selected on
the basis of academic achievement,
special aptitude, leadership potentialities and personal qualifications.
The purpose of the scholarships
is to attract qualified persons pursuing engineering careers to enter
and remain active in the field of
highway engineering, particularly
those whose services can and will
^^Wcitship,  on   page  5
f Salute To  Hoffmann f
It isn't often that an administrator in public service
is unanimously approved for reappointment by the
body passing on his record and qualifications to continue in office. But this was the case last week with
M. J. Hoffmann, Minnesota commissioner of highways.
Commissioner Hoffmann was reappointed for another
four-year term by Governor C. Elmer Anderson and
the senate promptly confirmed the governor's action
without a dissenting vote.
Commissioner Hoffmann, since assuming his position in 1939, has provided the courageous and foreward-
looking leadership which has helped to give his state
a highway system second to none in the nation. The
results of his efforts to build good roads are seen everywhere. His program has not only included new construction but the modernization of older highways
which have been redesigned to carry today's heavy
load of traffic.
After laying out department projects year by year,
Commissioner Hoffmann has always been willing to
meet with civic groups and other good roads boosters
who sincerely believe a particular section of highway
in their district should receive more attention or a
higher priority rating. He has frequently modified his
own over-all program to incorporate suggestions
springing from the "grass-root" viewpoints of the state's
citizens. His willingness to accept this democratic
progress in the conduct of highway department affairs
has set an example for others who sit in high places
and pass judgment on what the public shall have.
There should be a word of commendation, as well,
for the engineers and other department employees
working in conjunction with the commissioner. They
form a splendid team which is hard to beat.
Congratulations, Commissioner Hoffmann, for a
job well done. Your unanimous endorsement by the
senate is indicative of the high esteem in which you
are held by all Minnesota citizens.
From  International   Falls   Daily   journal
Hold On To Your
Insurance, Yet
While the 58th session of the
state legislature provided that the
state shall pay premiums for liability insurance for state employees operating state owned motor
vehicles, Hang On To Your Insurance Yet!
The act was effective upon signature of the governor but it will
take some time to implement the
act and put proper procedures into
operation.
The Attorney-General has ruled
that the act was proper and constitutional allowing the Department of Administration to proceed
to put the plan into action.
However, the many problems
invloved in the change over of
systems from payroll deductions
and personal insurance to the state-
paid insurance will take a number
of weeks to iron out. It is hoped
that whatever procedures are adopted, which must be state-wide, will
be agreed upon and placed into
operation shortly after the beginning of the next fiscal year, July 1,
1953.
' The text of the act, introduced
as H. F. 1286 is as follows:
"For an Act Providing that the
State Shall Pay the Premiums for
Liability Insurance for State Employees Operating State Owned
Motor Vehicles.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of
the State of Minnesota:
"The state shall pay premiums
on insurance policies insuring its
employees against liability from
claims for bodily injuries, death or
property damage made upon such
employees while operating state
owned vehicles in the performance
of, in connection with or incidental
to their duties as state employees.
Payment of such premiums shall
be made from funds appropriated
or otherwise available to the various departments and agencies of
the state. The payment of such
premiums shall not impose upon
Insurance, on page 3