Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-26
GOOD ROADS LAW
DUE TO TAVENNER
Fo3erh Measure Approved by Prezf-
dent Carrying 5000. 600 Another
Of Representatives Hobbies
HAD WORKED HARD FOR IF
Promises Great Benefit to Rural Com
munitieS and the Public in General
is an Opening Wedge.
Especial 10 The Argus) .

Especial 70 The Argus)-
Washington, July 26.-with the
signing by President Wilson of the
SSSO0O 600 federal good roads law, a
beginning was made toward the real
iEatlOl Of another of Representative
Clyde IT. Taveuner's hobbies" Tav-
enner has been an enthusiastic advo-
cate Of good roads, and represents the
state of Illinois on the roads commit
tee Of the house, which framed the
$S5000O00 bill just signed by the
president
No district in the United States
needs Eood roads moro than the one l
have the honor to represent" said
Congressman TayeuneT, discussing the
matter recently The bill just signed |
by the president is not a perfect meas
ure by any means, but II is at least an
opening wedge.
THE sum OF SS5.oOO000 of federal
funds Is made available for the con-
struction of rural roads. by the pas
SAGE OF the federal-aid road bill which
became Law on July Il, 1916. OF
this sum. $75,000,O0O is to be expended
for the construction OF rural post
roads under cooperative arrang ements
with the highway departments OF the
various states. and 10000 900 is TO be
expended for roads and trails within or
J
act limits the federal governments
share in road worE in cooperation with
the states to 80 per cent of the eStl-
mated cost OF construction Federal
aid may he extended to the COnstruC-
ton Of any rural post road, 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 POO feet apart
Five million dollars is made avail
able for expenditure during the fiscal |
year ending June 30. 1917. and there |
after the appropriation is increased at
the rate of FIVE millions a year until |
1921 when the sum provided is % |
millions. making a total OF as mil
lions In addition, an appropriation |
Of $1,000 600 a year for 10 years |
total of 10000 .0O0-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 secretary |
of agriculture and the state highway |
departments.
AppOrtiOnment Of Funds.
'"The act provides that after making
necessary deductions for administer !
ing its prOvisionS-nOt 10 exceed ) per |
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-third in the ratio which the
population OF each state bears to the
total population of all the states
"One-thiTd 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.
Estimates OF Funds Needed.
Project statements setting forth
the proposed construction OF any rural
post road or roads in state are to be
submitted by the state highway de-
partment to the secretary Of agrlcul-
ture. and upon approval by the secre-
tary all necessary surveys, plans,
specifications. and estimates must he
furnished. The roads projected must
he of a substantial character. and
items covering engineering, inspection,
and unforeseen contingencies are not
to exceed 10 per cent of the total esti-
mated cost OF the work.
Upon completion of the work as
approved DE the secretary the amount
So, aside for tie project is to be paid
tC tIe proper state official The secre-I
tary Of agriculture is given authority,
in mis- discretion, TO make partial pay
14euts as the work progresses, but not
in excess of the federal government
pro rata share of the labor and ma
1erial 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 All construction work is
subject 10 the inspection and approval
Of the secretary Of agriculture.
States Charged With Maintenance
The various states securing aid un-
der the provisions Of the act are
charged with the making of needed re-
pairs and the preservation Of a reason
ably smooth surface, considering the
type Of the road, but are not obligated
40 make extraordinary repairs or I'M
dertake reconstruction If, after due
notice. a state fails TO maintain fed
eraIl aided road properly, the secre-
tary Is required to refuse further and
until the road has been properly re-
paired at state expense"