Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-07-26

rural roads. by the passage of the
Federal Aid Road Bill which became
law on July II, 1916. OF this sum
| SIS ,000,000 is to be expended for the
construction of rural post roads under
cooperative arrangements with the
highway departments of the various
states, and $10,0O0,O0O is to be expend-
ed for roads and trails within or
partly within the National forests. The
act limits the Federal Government S
share in road work in cooperation
with the states to so per cent of the
estimated cost of construction of any
rural post road, excluding all streets
or roads in towns having a population
of $500 or more except the portions
of such streets or roads on which the
houses are, on an average, more than
200 feet apart
Five million dollars is made avail
able for expenditure during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1917, and there,
after the appropriation is increased at
the rate of five millions a year until
1921, when the sum provided is
twenty-five millions, making a total
Of seventy-fve millions. In addition,
a. appropriation of one million dollars
year for ten years, total of ten
million dollars, is made available for
the development of roads and trails
wholly or partly within the National
forests.
The class of roads to be built and
the method of construction are to be
mutually agreed upon by the Secre
tary of Agriculture and the State
highway departments.
AppOrtiOnment of Funds Among States
The act provides that after making
necessary deductions for administer
ing its provisions-not to exceed 3
per cent of the appropriation for any
one fiscal year-the Secretary of Ag-
riculture shall apportion the re-
mainder of each years appropriation
in the following manner:
One-third in the ratio which the
area of each state bears to the total
area of all the states;
One-third in the ratio which the
population of each state bears to the
total population of all the states. -.
One-third in the ratio which the
mileage of rural delivery routes and
star routes in each state bears to the
total mileage of rural delivery routes
and star routes in all the states.
Estimate of Funds Needed for Project.
Project statements setting forth the
proposed construction of any rura!
pest roads in state are to be submit
ted by the State highway department
to the Secretary of Agriculture, and
Upon approval by the Secretary all
necessary surveys, plans, specifica-
tons and estimates must be furnish
ed. The roads projected must be of a
substantial character, and items GOV,
ering engineering, inspection, and I'M
forseen contingencies are not to ex-
coed ten per cent of the total estimate
ed cost of the work.
Upon completion of the work as
approved by the Secretary, the
amount set aside for the project is
to be paid to the proper State official.
Tie Secretary of Agriculture is given
authority in his discretion to make
partial payments as the work pro-
crosses, but not in excess of the
Federal Governments pro rata share
Of the labor and material which have
been actually put into construction
work, nor in excess of $4,000 per
mile, exclusive of the cost of bridges
Of more than 20 feet clear span. All
construction work is subject to the
inspection and approval of the secre-
tary of Agriculture.
States Charged With Maintenance.
The various states securing aid un-
dor +ba provicions Of tho aot ORC