The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-29
KANSAS GETS IT.
State Law Doesn't Bar Big Fed
eral Appropriation.
George P. Wheeler Writes Arti-
Gle on Good Roads Bill.

Instead of Kansas being barred
from the use of the big federal appro-
priation for the construction Of good
roads because there is no highway
commission in the state. Kansas is in
a better position to use this money TO
good advantage than many other
states having a state highway commits
sion
In an article explaining the federal
good roads law, George C. Wheeler,
associate editor of the Kansas Farmer
Topeka makes the above statement
He says:
There is apparently no reason why
the Hodges road law cannot be used IN
Kansas in connection with the Federal
appropriations, for the supreme court
of Kansas has passed upon its con-
stitutionaIity and the county commits
sioners are authorized to issue county
Improvement bonds. thus practically
guaranteeing the funds to be collected
from the benefit district
The roads to be improved must ne
rural post roads" and must be Sc
lected by the state highway depart
ment- Rural post roads" are defined
as public roads over which the
United States mails now are or may
hereafter be transported, excluding
every street and road in a place hav-
ing a population. as shown by the last
available federal census, of $500 or
more. except that portion of any such
average more than 900 feet apart"
The bill provides that the term
state highway department. shall be
construed to include any department of
another name, or commission, or Of
fetal or officials. of state empow-
cred, under its laws, to exercise the
functions ordinarily exercised by
state highway department"
The 1914 Kansas Law.
The Kansas law. passed in 1914. pro-
vides that whenever the county en-
gineer or board of county commission
ers of any county may desire the ad-
vice and scientific knowledge of the
state engineer of roads and highways
at the State Agricultural college at
Manhattan, Kansas. in relation to road
building materials and their use. grad
ing and draining roads, plans and
specifications for bridges, culverts.
concrete and metal construction and
the best methods of caring for roads
and highways. they may command
| such services; and it is hereby made
the duty of the state engineer and the
State Agricultural college at Manhat-
tan, Kansas, to furnish all such advice
! and scientific knowledge without
charge and expense to the county en-
gineer or to the board of commission
ers requiring the same, or to the coun-
( ty they represent"
| Since 1908 the Agricultural college
and since, 1911 the college has been
authorized by law to carry on read
work and to exercise the functions
ordinarily exercised by a state high
way department so that Kansas IS
I legally. technically. and financially
/ able to take advantage of the federal
aid.
Must Be Approved.
| The roads constructed by federal aid
must be maintained by the state or it's
civil subdivisions. In Kansas these
roads will have to be maintained by
/ the counties and townships, since the
state cannot appropriate money for
highways If any of these roads i'm
proved by federal aid are not main
tanned. the secretary of agriculture is
authorized to withhold appropriations
from the state or counties until the
roads are properly maintained
[ States having no highway depart
ment are given three years time in
| which to establish one, and the funds
appropriated are withheld and cannot
be used until highway department is
established