Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-21
Federal Aid to
The State of Maine

Chairman Deering and Chief Engi-
neer Sargent of the State Highway
Commission, returned Friday night
from Washington, D. c., where on
Tuesday and Wednesday they. with the
State highway officials Of IS states,
were in conference with Secretary
Huston Of the department Of Agdcul-
ture, and the director Of the Office Of
public roads. The purpose of the con-
ference was to discuss tentative rules
and regulations for handling the ques-
ton Of federal aid to the states. The
main points in connection with the
handling of the whole proposition are
about as follows:
The federal government will deal on
ly with the State highway department
in each state. The projects IN which
federal aid will be allowed must be pro-
jects which are part Of complete sys-
tenn Of state highways and the fewer
the projects the better the government
will be satisfied: In other words: The
government will prefer that the fede IL
aid be used on one or two or three pro-
Jects In any year, rather than on
dozen or Is. The idea is TO take consid-
cradle sections Of highways exactly as
was done in the case of The post road
work between Portland and Brunswick
during the season of 1911 and 1915 This
method Of handling work very much
reduces the engineering and supervis-
DRY costs and it will also lead 10 econ
omy in the governments part of the
supervision and inspection which they
will have to make from time 10 tine.
The federal aid law and the regula-
lions make it necessary for the high
way commission first to file with the
secretary of agriculture project
statement giving in general terms a
description and all necessary informa-
ton with respect to the road it IS pro-
posed to improve so that the secretary
OF agriculture may determine whether
it is a proper road for Improvement.
with sketch map which will show
how the road fits into the system.
Upon approval Of the project state
ment by the secretary the state must
then prepare an accurate survey,
plans, specifications and an estimate Of
the cost Of the work and submit that to
the secretary for approval. After this
approval has been granted the state
highway commission procee Is to all
rertise for bids and let contracts and
at the letting the government may
have representative. IL it deems it
advisable, so to do.
Up to the present time the state has
to bear the whole expense Of making
surveys and preparing the work for
letting. After the contract is awarded
the government cooperation begins
and the government will bear one-half
the cost Of construction work and half
the cost Of engineering ana incidental
expense, but not in excess Of 10 per
cent. Of the cost Of the work. Any ad-
ditional over-run in expense shall be
borne by the state.
Municipal officers throughout the State
and others who are informed and have
kept in touch with the progress Of State
aid Will see readily that this is merely
AZ application Of the method which has
been in vogue in the State c. Maine
since 1908 Of handling the cooperative
work Of road building under our State
aid law.
Chairman Deering and Engineer sar-
gent are much gratihed to learn that the
work Of building and supervising the
construction Of State highways in Maine
Ut tho present time, and in fact since the
creation Of the commission. meets every
requirement Of tho government resala-
lions: In other words: The routine meth
DDS already established by the Maine
Highway Commission wm not have to
BE- changed IN one particular, neither In
the engineering nor accounting division.
This applies both to the construction
work and The maintenance work being
performed By tho commission.
Ono pleasang 6aa&uIo Of the oou1efoncD