The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1916-07-20
FEDERAL AID FOR
RURAL POST ROADS
Recent Legislation Provides for
System of Improved Highways
Funds for the States

The sum of $s5,OOO,OOO of Fedora
funds is made available for the con.
struction of rural roads, by the pass
age of the Federal-aid road bill which
became law on July II. Of this sum
SIS 100000 is to be expended for the
construction of rural post roads under
cooperative arrangements with the
highway departments of the various
states, and $1O,OOO,O00 is to be ex-
pended for roads and trails within OF
partly within the national forests. The
act limits the Federal governments
share in road work in cooperation with
the states to so per cent of the esti-
mated cost Of construction. Federal
aid may be extended to the construc-
ton of any rural post road, excluding
all streets or roads in towns having q
population of $500 or more, except the
portions of such streets or roads or
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 al
the rate of five millions a year until
1921, when the sum provided is TWEEN
ty-five millions, making total OF
seventy-fve millions. In addition, an
appropriation of 100000 a year fol-
10 years-a total of $4,000, 000-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 high
way departments.
AppOrtiOnment of Funds
The act provides that after making
necessary deductions for administer
ing it's provisions to exceed pei
cent of the appropriation for any one
fiscal year-the secretary of agricul.
ture shall apportion the remainder OF
each years appropriation in the fol.
lowing manner:
One third in the ratio which the area
of each state bears to the total area
of all the states.
One-tSird in the ratio which the pop.
ulation of each state bears to the to.
tai population of all the states.
One-third in the ratio which the
mileage of delivery routes and star
routes in each state bears to the tota,
mileage of rural delivery routes ane
star routes in all the states.
Funds Needed for Projects
Project statements setting forth the
proposed construction Of any rura
post roads in a state are to be sub
mitted by the state highway depart.
ment to the secretary of agriculture
and upon approval by the secretary
all necessary surveys, plans, speci
ications and estimates must be fur
nished. The roads projected must b.
of a substantial character, and item.
covering engineering, inspection, ant
unforeseen contingencies are not tx
exceed 10 per cent of the total esti
mated cost of the work.
Upon completion of the work as ap
proved by the secretary, the amount
set aside for the project is to be pait
to the proper state official. The sec
rotary Of agriculture is given author
ity, in his discretion, to make partia
payments as the work progresses, but
not in excess of the Federal govern.
ment,s prorata share of the labor anG
material which have been actually put
into construction work nor in excess OF
$4,000 per mile, exclusive of the cos,
of bridges of more than 20 feet clear
span. All construction work is sub.
ject to the inspection and approval OF
the secretary of agriculture.
State Maintenance
The various states securing aid un.
der the provisions of the act are to be
charged with the making of needed re.
pairs and the preservation of rea.
sonably smooth surface, considering
the type of road, but are not obligated
to make extraordinary repairs or un.
dertake reconstruction. If, after due
notice, state fails to maintain Fed
orally aided road properly, the Secre
tary is required to refuse further ale
until the road has been properly re
paired at state expense.