The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1916-07-28
GOVERNMENT AID
IN ROAD BUILDING
new Law Had Its Inception In Bill introduced
Tears ASo--.Utah's Portion This Year Is
Above Fifty Thousand Dollars.

~ uese OF all road officials has at last become reality II IL
GENERALLY held by those best informed concerning the economic
ca and administrative problems of road building and main
ehance that the law granting federal aid to the states for
oau construction the important step forward in highway
aas that has ever been taken the United States It means
That by cooperation between the states and their subdivisions
ana the national government the experience gained in any part
'he country viii be available promptly in every other part Ad
illustrative methods and the laws which they are based will
o subjected to critical study and technical will become
standardized The money on poor work done
by local authorities will undoubtedly reduced by the educational
effect taxpayers of the good roads built by federal aid The
stand taken by congress regarding the maintenance Of highways
will be of great help the officials in their endeavo 10 keep
their highways in good condition.
The new law had its inception bill introduced in the house
representatives by Congressman Shaed Il passed by
the house and then went to the senate where passed
modified form through the of Senator Bankhead
was then revised by conference committee of both branches of
congress to embody all the useful suggestions made during
the debates and to improve the wording But while the law Is
thus the work of single session. IL really many
years consideration by Of federal aid in road building
Various methods have been debated and the defects of each
been argued by critics Some proposals left the spending Of
money by the local authorities without national control and
thus contained Objectionable pork barrel features Others pro-
vded satisfactory national control but satisfactory
their methods Of aong federal assistance to the different
states All the defects with searching criticism revealed in
vous bills have been kept Of the law which thus
effect not hastily prepared but act represent
ing prolonged study through public discussion and the hearty
proval of state highway officials
The essential feature of the law cooperation In order to
obtain federal aid the state authorities designated the must
submit the United States secretary Of agriculture statement
the projected road construction which be Substantial
character in which national assistance is desired II the
ary approves project the state authorities then submit
surveys plans specifications and estimates he require If
these engineering legal features approved by the
tary officials at liberty 10 ahead with the work
The treasury department will pay TO the proper state officials
from time TO time the secretary of agriculture directs the
federal of the cost of the work. not to exceed ten thousand
dollars per mile which has been inspected and approved by him.
This exceed half the cost This leaves the state
authorities In control the construction subject only such
rules and regulations of the secretary Of agriculture
sary good designs and good construction where federal
aid is granted.
During the year beginning July 1916 the nation will spend
81 600 600 in such cooperative work. during l9l79ls II will
spend and the annual increment of S5OOOOOO will be
maintained until in 9202l S250OOOOO will be spent Three per
cent of these sums withheld for the federal administrative
and the remainder divided into three equal parts One
mart distributed among the states in proportion to their
the second part proportion TO their population and the third
mart in proportion the length of their rural delivery and star
routes None this money be used except state contributes
least an equal amount the road which il is TO be applied
this way the place part Of their road appropriations UNI
der the general control Of the secretary of agriculture and local
political influence toward extravaganza and nefcency viii be
materially checked in this way.
The law requires the states their civil subdivisions to main
the roads built with federal assistance If needed repairs are
made and the surface preserved N reasonably smooth con-
dn considering the type of construction the secretary OF ag
tra must notify the state authorities of the fact and if the
road has not put condition within four months from
m that notice the secretary directed 10 dsapprove
further road project from that state or its civil subdivision
ntl the road has been put in satisfactory condition
The effect the bill will probably be to develop the highway
If the states and to bring about closer relation be-
fine state highway department and the county township
a officials in each Such close relations already exist in
states and proved of the highest value in raising the
tv of local road work and eliminating waste OF money and
merely makesh improvements. 1t will tend TO
M nenye work highways of the greatest good to the
atest number of taxpayers which fundamental principle
vnendihlre of public funds 1t will bring to the
III Tue Enc road nrobems every state not only the wisdom
officers but also that of other state ganered
oodd for immediate service by the United States office Of
% roads and rural engineering the section Of ms
pup t secretary of agriculture will administer the bill