Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-27

law shall be main-traveled trunk lines,
connecting interstate highways, or
merely small sections scattered
throughout the states is also left to
the discretion of the secretary of
agriculture. Construction of both is
expected. At the proposed conference
Of state highway representatives here
it is believed proposals for a compre-
hensive, correlative road building
scheme will be reached. The Amer
lean Highway association, the Amer
lean Automobile association and 9TH
er good roads organizations are in
terested in such coordination and
correlation of the public roads
throughout the entire nation. Devel-
opment OF the national road system
as a whole is the broad scheme and
aim of government officials, with the
aid OF state authorities.
The machinery for cooperative
action is substantially as follows
States desiring to secure their share
OF the federal funds will, through
their highway commissions or de-
partments, file formal application,
submitting the route and character OF
roads proposed to the secretary OF
agriculture. Should he approve the
projects, the secretary Of agriculture
will notify the state commission and
the secretary of the treasury. The
latter will then set aside the share
Of the United States, which shall not
exceed 50 per cent Of the cost. The
secretary OF agriculture will order
payment Of the federal funds upon
completion OF the roads, and is also
authorized to make partial payments
as construction proceeds.
States in Control.
The construction work and labor
in each state Is to be done in accord
ance with state laws and under imnc-
date supervision OF the state high
way department, subject to inspection
and approval by government engi-
neers. This leaves the states in con-
troll Of the construction, subject only
to insure good designs, :.
Selection of road routes, ~ well
as their type and structural compost
ton, is also left primarily to the state
officials, subject to approval or rejec-
ton by the secretary OF agriculture. +.
To secure share OF the federal
funds, state legislatures or counties
must appropriate sums equal to the
federal allotments. The act also re-
quires formation OF state highway
commissions, or a similar state
agency, to have charge of the states
part Of the work. Four states, lndi-
ana, South Carolina, Georgia and
Texas, have no such commissions or
corresponding organizations, but to
secure federal funds they must be or
ganixed. Other states have no high
way commissions, but have substan-
tally similar departments or agen-
cies.
Where states, like Illinois, are pro-
hibited by their constitutions or
otherwise prevented from acting
under the proposed contributory plan.
the act provides that the federal ap-
preparations may become available
to separate counties when they shall
match the government 8 contribu-
tons, such roads, Of course, being
built only within the contributing
counties
Guard Against Haste.
To give the states ample time to
build roads and guard against hasty
or extravagant construction. the law
also provides that unexpendcd fed
eral appropriations each year shall be
available during the succeeding year,
while this years allotments to states
which have no highway departments
shall be available for three years. to
give the state legislatures time 10 Gre
ate such departments.
For enforcement OF the provision
requiring the states to maintain the
new roads without federal assistance,
the secretary Of agriculture is author
lied to disapprove Of further road
projects from such states or their
civil subdivisions and deny further
government aid II roads are not put
in proper condition after four
months notice.
Development of q federal corps Of
highway engineers is one OF the re-
suits expected from the new law.
Civil service examinations will be
held August s for many more high
way engineers needed by the govern,
ment.