Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-15
S85,000,000 FED
ERAL AID FOR
RURAL ROADS
Recent Legislation Provides for
System of Improved High.
ways-How States May Sc
cure Funds.

Washington d. c., July IA, The sum of
SIS, 100000 of Federal funds is made avail
able for the construction of rural roads,
by the passage of the federal aid road bill
which became a law on July /, 1916. OF
this sum, s75OOo,oOO is to be expended for
the construction of rural post roads under
cooperative arrangements with the high
way departments of the various states,
and 100000 is to be expended for roads
and trails within or partly within the Ma
tional forests. The Act limits the Fed
eral Government share in road wo in
cooperation with the states to so per
cent of the estimated cost of construction.
Federal aid may be extended to the con-
struction of any rural post road, exclud-
ing 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 available for
expenditure durin gthe fiscal year ending
June 30, 1917, and thereafter the appropria-
ton is increased at the rate of s5,oCO,00O "a
year until 1921, when the sum provided is
SIS, OO0, 900, making total of S75,00o,000. IN
addition, an appropriation of 100000
year for 10 years. total of slO,oo0,OO0, 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 mu-
tually agreed upon by the secretary of
agriculture and the State highway de-
partments.
Apporticnment of Funds
The Act provides that after making
necessary deductions for administering
its provsions.-not to exceed per cent
of the appropriation for any one fiscal
year,-the Secretary of Agriculture shall
apportion the remainder OF each years
appropriation in the following manner:
One-third in the ratio which the area or
each state bears to the total area of all
the states;
One-third in the ratio which the popula-
ton 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.
Estimates Of Funds Needed
Project statements setting forth the
proposed construction of any rural post
road or roads in a state are to be sub
mitted by the state highway department
to the secretary of agriculture, and upon
approval by the secretary all necessary
surveys, plans, specifications and esti-
mates must be furnished. The roads pro-
jected must be of a substantial character
and items covering engineering. inspec-
ton, and unforeseen contingencies are not
to exceed 10 per cent. of the total esti-
mated costs of the work.
Upon completion of the work as ap-
proved by the secretary, the amount set
aside for the project is to be paid to the
proper state official The secretary of
agriculture is given authority in his dis
cretion to make partial payments as the
work progresses, 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 % feet
clear span. All construction work is sub
ject to the inspection and approval of the
secretary of agriculture.
States Charged with Maintenance
The various states securing aid under
the provisions of the act are charged with
the making of needed repairs and the
preservation of a reasonably smooth sur
face, considering the type of the road,
but are not obliged to make extraordi-
nary repairs or undertake reconstruction.
If, after due notice, a state fails to
maintain a federally aided road properly,
the secretary is required to refuse fur
Their aid until the road has been properly
repaired at state expense.
The sum Of 100000 is made available
in yearly appropriations Of 100000 for
the cooperative construction and main
tenance Of roads and trails within or
partly within the national forests by the
United States. states. territories, or coun-
ties in which the forests lie.
AynDTIy ATICYyCT