The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-07-04

II ton of q national system of
l ! good roads, facilitate the exten'
sion of the. postal service. and
lessen the dependence Of the agricul-
tural and industrial interests of the
country upon the railroads for trans
portation has been introduced in Con-
gress by Representative Hearst, OF
New York The bill has attracted n
great deal Of attention, and it is under
stood its author will leave no stone un-
turned to get it through Congress.
The bill provides in effect that any
State or Territory or any county there
of which shall have authorized and I'M
dertaken. subject to plans and specil-
cations filed with and duly approved
in writing by the Secretary of Agricul-
ture, the construction or reconstruc-
ton of more than ten miles Of public
road outside the limits Of any city OF
Incorporated village shall be entitled
to receive out Of the United States
Treasury, under certain conditions, one
half the cost thereof. The Secretary
of Agriculture shall sign warrants fol
such payments only after it has been
esta blished to his satisfaction: First
that the road for assistance in whose
construction claim is made Of sufficient
public importance to come within the
purview of the act, taking into account
its use, location and value as main
market road a mail route and as an in
tegral part of national system of good
roads. Second, that the State, Terri
tory or county claiming payment has
made suitable and adequate provision
for the payment of one-half the cost or
the entire construction or improvement
authorized and undertaken, and for the
permanent maintenance thereof with
ONT recourse to the United States.
Third. that the work has been done In
accordance with the approved plans
and specifications and at the cost
! claimed.
No payment herein provided for shall
be made except as the work Of actual
construction progresses, and in no case
shall the payment or payments made
! by the United States in advance or the
final completion Of road, for assist
ance in whose construction claim Is
made. exceed forty per centum of the
cost of the work then actually com
pieted. The Secretary Of Agriculture
is given authority to employ the neces'
sary engineers, inspectors and clerks,
and make such rules and regulations
as may be necessary to carry the pro-
posed law into effect.
The bill appropriates S50,OOO,OOO for
the purposes of the act, but provides
that not more than S10,OOO'OOO shall be
expended in any year. Such sum snail
be apportioned among the States ana
| Territories from which claims are re-
ceived in proportion that the popula'
ton of the several States and Territor'
les. reckoned according to the last Fed
eral census. bears to the total popula'
tion of the United States. II the
claims from any State or Territory are
for a sum less than The sum to when
the State is entitled, the surplus to De
annortioned among the other States
from which claims are received in pro-
portion that their population bears 10
the total population of the States ana
| Territories from which claims are re-
! ceived, as nearly as practicable SO as
IN render available in each year the
whole sum of $10,0O0,000. The pro-
nosed law is to take effect Immediately
after its enactment.-The Automobile.
PENNSYLVANIA VIII Improve 400 Miles
Reports from Harrisburg indicate
that ere snow flies again upwards OF
400 miles Of improved road will nave
been laid down under the Sproul Good
Roads law passed at the last regular
session of the Pennsylvania Leglslat'
ure. Dauphin, Jefferson. Junlata' Leu
anon and Schuylkill counties are Tue
onlv ones in the State which, nave
failed to put in an application tor
share of the money appropriated for
building and maintaining good Coads'
Their shares have reverted to the gen
oral roads fund. To this fund will also
be added the balance left after paying
all expenses of the new AutomoDlie
Bureau Of the State Highway Depart.
ment, which handles the business OF
issuing licenses to motor car owners
This balance, it is believed, Will DE
close to $4,000. State Highway Com
missioner Hunter, an automcSilist him.
self, is greatly interested in the pro-
aposed translate road.
How Snlif.Log Drag Works.