Minnesota Highways, April 1957

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VOL. 6, NO. 6
1246     University    Ave.,    St.    Paul    4,    Minn.
APRIL,  1957
Hoffmann Has
Memories of
Dept. Growth
In its earlier years, the
Highway department was
confronted by many situations little dreamed of by employees of only more recent
years. Commissioner Hoffmann recalled some of these
problems and their solutions
as he prepared to retire April
20 as commissioner, after 43
years in the department, 18 of
them as commissioner.
He served in a variety of staff
and executive positions before helming commissioner, as reported
last month's Minnesota Highways.
Quarters Were  limited
"When we first occupied the
present Highway central office
building in 1922," he recalled, "it
was only the western wing of the
present building. The department
rented the first and second stories,
using the third floor only occasionally for Hiwayan gatherings,
dances and the like. At that time,
we had no Highway patrol, Driver's License or Traffic and Planning divisions, etc., and no office
employees."
When the state highway system
was established in 1921, the Commissioner explained, the department had to make arrangements
with the various county boards to
take over the maintenance organization which the counties then had
on state aid roads, as those roads,
in the main, constituted the new
so-called 7,000-mile trunk highwav
system.
'Maintenance operations on dirt
T|d gravel roads mainly involved
ie use of horse-drawn equipment," Commissioner Hoffmann
said. "Under our agreements with
the various county boards during
(Continued   on   page   2)
State Senate Honors Commissioner
Commissioner Hoffmann displays the resolution adopted by the 1957 Minnesota
State Senate coferring upon him the title of Commissioner of Highways, Emeritus, in
recognition of his "unsurpassed contributions to our highway development." Formal
presentation of the resolution had just been made by Senator Norman H. Larson,
chairman of the senate highways committee.
Hoffmann Expresses Appreciation
To My Fellow Workers in the Highway Department:
With my retirement from the Highway Department near at hand,
this issue of Minnesota Highways affords an opportunity for me to
express to all of you my heartfelt appreciation for the splendid cooperation you have given me during many years. I have had deep satisfaction
in my experiences in the Highway Department, not alone in the work
I have had to do, but in the people with whom I have had the opportunity to serve—in the Central Offices and over the entire state.
Whatever success we have achieved in building and maintaining a good
highway system is the result of the total effort of all of us. No one
realizes that better than I who have had a close view of the department's varied operations. The happiest memories I wiir carry with me
are of my associations with my fellow workers in the department, many
of whom have likewise devoted their lives to public service in highway work.
In Mr. Zimmerman as my successor as commissioner, you will have
a highly qualified engineer and administrator, fully worthy of your
continued loyalty and best efforts. He has long been known to many of
us and I know the others of you will be happv to become acquainted
with him. I bespeak for Mr. Zimmerman the same cooperation and
friendship you have so generously given to me.
May I extend to all of you my best wishes for continued success in
your work and for your good health and happiness.
Zimmerman Sees
Three Important
Activities Ahead
Preparing to assume the
post of state Commissioner of
Highways April 21, Chief Engineer L. P. Zimmerman has
in mind what he considers to
be three major activities for
the department in the months
immediately ahead.
He revealed his thinking on future plans after his appointment
last month by Governor Freeman
to succeed M. J. Hoffmann, who
has held the post since 1939 and
whose present term expires April
20. Commissioner Hoffmann had
notified the governor that he did
not wish to be considered for reappointment. The commissioner's
term is for six years.
The three fields of activity listed
by Zimmerman are:
New thinking throughout
the department to meet new
needs for more and better
highways to move more traffic more rapidly and at the
same time to provide greater
traffic safety.
Reorganization of the department as needed to cope
L.   P.  Zimmerman