Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1916-10-20

these expenditures must be in such
units that will admit of economical
administration, that is, they will not
approve many isolated small expendi-
lures, as the cost of examination and
engineering will be so great that it
would be Improbable to undertake
the work in this nj The de-
partment's reasons for limiting the
projects IN each state to the smallest
possible number are sound, as this will
tend to make the amount expended on
each unit as large as can be consist
emily administered, with the result
that greater economy will prevail. The
elimination of the number Of small
projects will start a program Of road
construction hat will rapidly develop
a certain and definite mileage each
year, which will in a short space of
time take the burden of construction
of our through tonnage roads from
the shoulders of the local community
and distribute it on the state and fed
eral government, the local commun-
tiles being only held for the mainte-
nance of the roads so constructed.
Under this program Montana will
be limited not to exceed five projects
at the outset. It would be prefer
able we're the number reduced to two,
as by such an arrangement an organ
ization could be formed to more
readily cope with Montana conditions,
thus avoiding the danger of many
possible expensive mistakes, as many
features connected with the admins
tration Of this new law will of ne
cessity have to be worked out to meet
the conditions of each individual
state, and in many cases each individ-
ual community or section in which the
work is carried on.
However, as the financial require
ments we're such that Montana could
not at this time meet an expenditure
of more than $4,000 per contract,
as it is necessary to rely on the coun-
ties matching the government APP
preparation in the proposed five pro-
iects of two units, each, which will
make an expenditure of $4,000 in two
contracts on the part of the county,
or two counties might join in an ex-
penditure Of $4,000 each, the gov
eminent meeting this amount dollar
for dollar.
In addition to the federal appropri-
alton of $10,000,000 available to be
expended in those portions of the
States in which forest reserves are To-
Gated. Montana's share of this ap-
preparation for the year 1916-19l7 is
500, 900. This a be expended only
in counties in when forest reserves
are located and upon the main ton
age roads within the forest reser-
yes. Tie appropriation will continue
for a period of ten years, each an
nual sum available will be approxim-
ately the same as the initial oppor-
tionment, the division being made In
ten installments of one million each.
More In Forest Reserves.
In all there will be available for
Montana road work next year from
government sources $169,1S7. The law
requires the State Highway depart
ment in making application for fed
eral aid to make a survey, plans and
specifications for the proposed work.
The same shall be submitted to the
Federal Department of Roads for ap-
proval and upon approval with a sat
isfactory showing being made that
the county will meet the proposed ex-
penditure in an equal amount, the
project viii be approved, and a con-
tract authorized. The state is re-
CURED to stand all expense of admin
istration, that is the Highway Com
mission must stand the cost of all sur
veys, plans, specifications, superin-
t%endepce, attendant upon the con-
struction of the work, in order that
every dollar of the county's money