Section
3: The Interstate and Individual Freedom
The
first gasoline-burning automobile, a German-built Benz Velo, appeared
in Grand Forks in 1897 to advertise a brand of cigars. In the early
1900s, many people who wanted cars built their own, because they couldn't
buy one without a year or two delay.
Early automobile owners
simply struck out on their own on existing roads that were little
more than cow paths. Automobile associations organized across North
Dakota to lobby for better roads. They blazed new roads by sponsoring
endurance races, starting the "Good Roads Movement." County and township
governments built and maintained all of the roads in the state's early
days, but many roads were paid for, in large part, by trail associations
who were promoting travel between national parks.
The 1913 legislature created
North Dakota's first State Highway Commission. The legislature directed
the commission to aid county governments in road and bridge building.
The federal government entered the road building business in 1916
with the Federal Aid Road Act, providing federal aid to states for
road construction. In 1917, the legislature gave the highway commission
two-thirds of motor vehicle license fees, and the commission laid
out North Dakota's first statewide road system.
Road funding received a
major boost when the 1956 Highway Act put federal taxes on motor fuel,
large trucks and other road-related items for a highway trust fund.
That act also developed the Interstate Highway System which revolutionized
vehicular travel in the United States. Two interstate highways would
cross North Dakota. Interstate 94 would run east and west, mostly
replacing U.S. Highway 10. Interstate 29 would run north and south
through the Red River Valley and replace U.S. Highway 81.
Today there are 7,400 miles
of state highway. North Dakota is faced with an aging highway system
and fewer federal dollars to maintain or improve it. North Dakotans
will likely be making tough decisions in the future about which roads
can be saved.
Chronology
|
1897
|
Gasoline-burning
automobile comes to North Dakota.
|
|
1899
|
Automobile is assembled
in North Dakota.
|
|
1905
|
Speed limits for
automobiles are set.
|
|
1913
|
State Highway Commission
is created
|
|
1914
|
Red Trail is blazed
across North Dakota.
|
|
1916
|
Federal aid road
act passes.
|
|
1925
|
Major routes are
designated as federal highways.
|
|
1935
|
Legislature requires
drivers to be licensed and creates the North Dakota Highway
Patrol.
|
|
1956
|
Interstate Highway
System is created.
|
|
1957
|
Segment of I-94
connecting Valley City and Jamestown is opened.
|
|
1968
|
I-94 is completed
across the state from east to west.
|
|
1976
|
I-29 is completed
across the state from north to south.
|
Discussion
Questions
What
were the advantages of the automobile versus other modes of transportation?
What were
the changes brought about by the arrival of the automobile?
How was
the automobile first introduced to North Dakota?
Why did
people build automobiles in North Dakota
How did
roads develop and how were they improved?
How did
trail associations affect road development?
How has
road maintenance changed throughout the years?
What are
the future hurdles for North Dakota roads?
Vocabulary
- Benz Velo
- Endurance
races
- Good Roads
Movement
- National Parks
Highway Association
- Red Trail
- State Highway
Commission
- Interstate
Highway System
