The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-11-02
GREAT PRECAUTIONS
70 GUARD ROAD fund
No Lax Methods In Expending
$75,O00,on0 Authorized By
Last Congress.

Washing ton - Thy mai) -EaDoratS
plans TO prevent the diversion into i'm
proper channels Of any part OF the $75,-
0O0. 900 which the federal government
is TO spend in cooperation with states
on good roads within the next FIVE
years have been made by Logan Waller
Page, director of the office OF public
roads and rural engineering which will
supervise the work.
The government is determined. Of
ficials say, that there shall be no rep
clifton CT the lax methods and waste
which have characterized the building
of roads in many sections and that q
dollars worth OF roadbcd shall be con-
structed for every dollar spent. FUR
Their. the public roads office is prepar-
ing 10 see to it that the ROADS for which
the government money is spent are
places where the traffic delnand is the
heaviest and not where politicians or
others desire them.
The plans designed to prevent abuses
are covered largely in rules and regu-
lations promulgated by Secretary
Houston. of the department of Agri-
culture, unde authority conferred by
the federal aid road act. The rules,
which outline the methods by which the
federal government shall aid the states
in the construction of highways, pro-
vide that detailed information in ref
erence to the proposed construction
and maintenance snail be furnished to
the secretary Of agriculture before any
agreements are made.
When the plans OF l., state for road
building. accompanied by a request for
federal aid are received, thev will be
fully investigated by government
agents. and if acceptable the state will
receive from the government its APP
p~ortionnent of the appropriation made
for the purpose. Under the terms OF
the act the federal government pays tho
bill for one-half the cost and the state
Jays the other half. More than a
score of states already ave indicated
their intention to ask Tor federal aid
and two, California and Connecticut,
nave filed formal applications.
Project statements made to the de-
partment, according 10 the rules and
regulations, are required to contain
"all information necessary to enable
the secretary to ascertain (a) whether
the project conforms to the require
| ments Of the act; (b) whether adequate
funds. or their equivalent. arc or will
be available by or on behalf Of the
state for constructions; (c) what pur-
| pose the project will serve and nov 1t
c~orrelates with other highway work Of
the state; (d) the administrative con-
troll of, and responsibility for. tile pro-
ject; (e) the practicability and econ
omy Of the project from an engineer
ing and construction standpoint; CD
the adequacy of the plans and pro-
visions for proper maintenance of
roads; and Cd the approximate
| amount of federal aid desired"
With eac statement there must be
submitted for the approval Of the Sec
rotary copies Of the forms Of contract;
together with all documents referred
to therein. and the contractors bon
INopf" 1Nrnianf StofnrDant c1cn must hA
accompanied by q sketch map showing
the location of the proposed project and
the main contiguous transportation
features, Il suitable samples OF ma
terial must be submitted whenever re-
quested. Where any part of the cost
Of q project is to be furnished by sub
divisions of a state, certified copies OF
resolutions or orders respecting the
funds must be submitted.
Rights of way and damages to ad-
Joining property have to be paid for by
the states, and the federal government
will not pay any part Of the expense
of making surveys, plans, specifica-
tions or estimates prior to the begin
ming OF construction.
The regulations require, too, thai M
part Of the federal money be paid until
IT. has been shown to the satisfaction
of the secretary that adequate means
were employed prior to the beginning
of the construction to insure econom1-
SCl dI0 pldCllCdl expenditure. TTlCE
to the acceptance Of any bid. sufficient
opportunity must be given the office OF
public roads to have a representative
present If it SO desires.
If a contract should be awarded to
any other than the lowest responsible
bidder, the government will not pay
more than its pro rata Of the lowest
bid, unless 1t can be satisfactorily
shown that it was advantageous to the
work to accept the higher bid. Copies
80 II 4-~ = -,,- % i -.
the respective state highway depart
nlents and furnished the office of pub
lie roads, and specifications and plana
must be made a part Of all contracts.
Unless otherwise specified in writing
by the secretary Of agriculture, ma
terials for construction, prior to use
must be tested for conformity with
specifications.
Certified vouchern showing the
amounts expended upon any project
n the amount claimed to be due from
the federal government must be sub
m!tted upon. the completion of the work
or If the secretary OF agriculture has
determined to make payments as con-
struction progresses, at intervals OF
not less han one month.
The office Of public roads will, ~
far as is practicable, endeavor to have
the roads of one state connect with
those of another. The effort will be to
have the roads continuous in The states
ailo palCHeS LleIe anu patches LneTe Will
not be constructed out of any Of tho
federal money unless they should DO
in localities where the traffic is heavy
and h demand great. For instance.
in some cases plans for roads branch
ms. out from market or industrial cen
tiers to thickiy populated sections
would be acceptable to the government
regardless Of whether they connect
with other market or industrial cen.
tiers.
.
All Honor 10 Themi