Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-08-02
$S5,OOO,OOO AID FOR
ROADS BY GOVERN'T
LEGISLATION FOR IMPROVED
HIGHWAYS-HOW STATES
MAY SECURE FUNDS.

dNdlldDle LOT the COuSlIuCIlOn VI 4 VI d
roads, by the passage of the federal
aid road bill which became a law on
July IL, 1916. OF this sum, S75,OO0,-
900 is to be expended for the con-
struction of rural pOstrOads under CO.
operative arrangements with the high
way departments of the various states,
and 100000 900 is to be expended for
roads and trails with or partly within
the national forests.
The act limits the federal govern
ment's share in road work in cooper
alton with the state to 80 per cent of
the estimated cost of construction.
Federal aid may be extended to the
construction of any rural postroad,
excluding all streets or roads in towns
having a population of $500 or more
except the portions of such streets or
roads on 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 at
the rate of five millions year until
1921, when the sum provided is $685.
100000 making a total of $75,000,000.
In addition, an appropriation OF ST.
100000 a year for ten years, total
of $4,000, 900, 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 Among States.
The act provides that after making
necessary deductions for administer
ing its prOvisiOns,-nOt to exceed 3
per cent. Of the appropriation for any
one fiscal year,-the secretary of ag-
riculture shall apportiOn the remain
der Of each years appropriation in
the following manner.
One-third in the ratio which the
area Of each state bears to the total
area Of all the states;
One-third in the ratio which the
population of each state bears to the
total population Of all the states;
One-third in the ratio which the
mileage of rural delivery routes and
star routes in each state bears to the
total mileage of rural delivery routes
and star routes in all the states.
Project statements setting forth the
proposed construction Of any rural
pOstroads or roads in a state are to
n 10Th II a
partment to the secretary of agricul-
ture, and upon approval by the secre-
tary of all necessary surveys, plans,
specifications and estimates must be
furnished. The roads projected must
be of substantial character, and items
covering engineering, inspection and
unforeseen contingencies are not to
exceed 10 per cent of the total estim-
ated cost of the work.
Upon completion of the work as APP
proved by the secretary, the amount
set aside for the project is to be paid
to the proper state official. The secre-
tary Of agriculture is. given authority
in his discretion to make partial pay
ments as the work progresses, but not
i'll excess Of the federal governments
pro rata share of the labor and ma
terial which have been actually put
into construction work, nor in excess
OF $4,000 per mile, exclusive Of the
cost of bridges Of more than 20 feet
clear span.
State Charged With Maintenance.
The various states securing aid I'M
der the provisions of the act are
charged with the making of needed
repairs and the preservation of a reas-
onabIy smooth surface, considering
the type of the road, but are not OBJ
ligated to make extraordinary repairs
or undertake reconstruction. Ii, after
due notice. a state fails to maintain
a federaIly aided road properly, the
secretary is required to refuse further
aid until the road has been properly
repaired at state expense.
For Roads and Trails.
The sum of $4,000 is made avail
able in yearly appropriations of ST.
100000 for the cooperative construct
ion and maintenance of roads and
trails within or partly within the ma
tiOnaI forests by the United States,
states, territories, or counties In which
the forests lie Expenditures for this
purpose are not to exceed ten per cent
of the value of the timber and forage
resources available for income upon
the National forests where the roads
or trails are constructed. Beginning
with the next fiscal year after an
agreement is made between the Sec
rotary Of Agriculture and state, ter
ritory. or county for the cooperative
construction of such roads, ten per
cent OF all revenues from such forest
are TO be applied toward reimburs-
ing the United States Government for
funds expended in road work until the
whole amount advanced shall have
been returned.
Though the winter may cut figure
on ice. the summer girl must have