The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-05-11
ITs NO 6 MATTER.
NATION AND THE STATES.

To Build Good Roads JointIy-Sena-
tor Swanson of Virginia introduces
Bill in United States Senate Pro-
Viding For an Appropriation Of
$~1OO,O0O,OOO to Defray Half of the
Cost of Improving Post Roads and
Rural Delivery Routes Throughout
the Country, the States to Defray
the Other Half of the COSt@$2O,-
10000 to Be Available Annually.
Washington May 5.-Senator Swan
son of Virginia has introduced the
following bill in the interest of the
good roads movement and he asks for
an appropriation of 500, 000, 200.
That the director of the office of
public roads of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture is hereby au-
thoriZed and directed, under the gem
eral supervision of the Secretary of
Agriculture, to carry out the pro-
vision of this act as hereinafter set
forth, and he is authorized to n
ploy such engineering and other as
sistance as may be necessary, and the
expense thereof shall be paid from the
appropriation hereinafter made. .
Sec. q. That upon application of
said director by the Legislature of
any State or such officer as the Leg
islature may designate, requesting
national aid in the improvement Of
any post road or rural delivery route,
and setting forth that such road is,
a post road or rural delivery route,
that it; is main travelled highway
that its Improvement would be of
great benefit to the State; that funds
will be available IN the part of the
State or local authorities to defray.
half of the expense of the proposed
Improvement of such road; it shall be
the duty of the said director to
investigation to be made as to the COR
rectness of all the statements made
is such application, and to determine
whether such improvement is desir-
able and for general welfare. If he
shall approve such application, he
| shall so inform said State authori-
ties. and then surveys, plans specif-
cations and estimates for improv-
ment shall be prepared, as may be
determined by the joint action of said
directors and State authorities and
which shall also be jointly approved.
After these have been approved and
! the director is satisfied that the por-
ton of estimated cost to be borne by
the State will be duly available, it
| shall be the duty of said director and
State authorities, as they may agree
to advertise for bids for the carrying
out of such Improvement. The bids
shall be made and contractes award
| ed under such rules and regulations
AS the said director and state aGtGori4
ties may prescribe.
Provided, That all tf5s sat he
nrared hy p re e~reeentatiye of the
office of public roads in public and
in the presence CT a da1y analifled
representative of the State. All con-
tracts shall be awarded jointly by
said director and duly constituted
road authorities of the State.
Sec. 8. That the director of the
office of public roads of the United
States Department of Agriculture and
the State authorities shall have joint
supervision over the construction, inn
provement, and maintenance of all
roads constructed. improved, or main
tanned under the provisions of this
act.
Sec. 4. That the entire cost of such.
construction Improvement or main.
tenance shall be paid by the Treasurer
of the United States upon war
rant from said director of the Office OF
public roads: Provided, that upon
completion of such construction and
improvement and payment therefor
the said director shall certify to the
duly constituted State authorities the
total cost of such improvement. and
it shall be the duty of the said State
authorities to cause to be paid to the
/ Treasurer of the United States and
by him placed to the credit of the
national highway fund, hereinafter
fcreated, an amount equal to ore-half
of the total cost so certified by said
director. Upon failure of any State
to pay to the national government the
amount so certified, it shall be the
duty of said director of the Office of
public roads to withhold additioal aid
until such payment is made.
Sec. 5. That there is hereby APP
propriated, out of any moneys in the
Treasury OF the United States not
otherwise appropriated, the sum OF
500, O0O. 900, of which $40. 100000 shall
be available annually for the pur-
pose OF carrying out the provisions
of this act, which amount, after the
payment of salaries and expenses
hereinafter mentioned. shall be an
: nua1Iy approtioned, in accordance
with the provisions OF this act. amonf
the several States and Te-rite-ies Z
leach Stste sI
ZsE GI ZA