Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-01-20
aOOD aoAps MEASURE.
Senator Lailmes Has Introduced HIS Bl'I--
Federal Aid for States.

Twenty.four miilion dollars for good
roads, to be expended at the rate Of
$1,000, 600 year during the next three
yearsl That lis the amount of appropria-
ton carried In the good roads bill which
Senator Latimer has just introduced.
His bill sets forth sn elaborate scheme
for Federal aid Of the good roads move
mont, for which purpose he proposes to
establish In the Department of Agricul-
ture bureau to be known as tho Bureau
of Public highways.
The object of this bureau, according
to the terms of the bill, shall be to co
operate with the various States In the
Improvement aud construction of per-
manent public roads In accordance with
the scheme set forth In detail In the bill.
This bureau is TO consist of three COM
missioners to be- known as Commissioners
of Highways, two of them shall be ap-
pointed by the President, one from each
Of the two leading parties; these to be
men who have had practical knowledge
of road engineering and construction.
The third member is to be an officer of
the engineer corps of the army of rank
not below captain. Each is to receive
compensation at the rate of $4,000 per
year for their services. These commits
sioners shall be under the general super
vision of the Secretary of Agriculture.
After the expiration of six months
from the time of the passage Of this aot
any State, through the proper officers
having jurisdiction of public roads, may
apply for aid in the Improvement or
construction Of public roads, under
general rules to be made by tho commits
sioners. No State shall be eutiIled to re-
oeive the benefits of this act until it
shall have established to the satisfaction
of the commissioners Of highways:
j. That the highway or section thereof
sought to be improved or constructed is
of sufficient public use to come within
the purview of this act, taking into 40
count the use, location and value of such
highway for the purpose of common
traffic and travel, aud for the delivery of
the mails.
2. That the requisite right of way
shall have been secured.
8. That the highway will be improved
or constructed in accordance with the
regulations of the bureau, and when so
improved will be maintained and kept in
repair without recourse upon the United
States.
4. That the State has provided for the
payment of its portion of the total cost.
One half the expense is to be borne by
the Federal & jvernment, the other half
being borne by the State, but it is pro-
vided that tho State may distribute its
portion of the expense among the coun-
ties directly benefited. 1t is further pro
vided that no money shall be advanced
by the United States in payment of it's
portion of the expense except as the
work of actual construction progresses,
and in no case shall the payment or pay
ments made prior to the completion of
the work be in excess of 80 per cent of
the work actually performed.
To carry out the provisions of the bill
an appropriation of $24,OOO,O0O is pro-
vided, $4,000, 900 for 1904, $4,000 900 for
1905, and $S,OOO,OO0 for 1905. If any part
of this is not expended in the year
named it shall be available for the sue
ce eding year. And it is further pro-
vided that no State shall receive in any
one year larger proportion of the sum
appropriated than it's population bears
to the total population of the States of
the United States.