The Prescott daily news., 1916-07-22
$S5,OOO,OOO FEDERAL
 AID FOR RURAL ROADS
Recent Legislation Provides for System of Improved High ways-How States May Se- cure Funds.


 sum of $85,000,000 of Federal funds Is made available for the construction of rural roads, by the passage of the Federal aid road bill which became a law on July II, 1916. Of this sum. $75,0O0,000 is to be expended for the construction of rural post roads un- der cooperative arrangements with the highway departments of the various States, and $10,000,O00 is to be expended for roads and trails within or partly within the National forests. The act limits the Federal governments share in road work in cooperation with the States to 50 per cent of the estimated cost of con struction. Federal aid may be eX- tended to the construction of any rural post road, excluding all streets or roads in towns having a popula- ton of 2,500 or more except the DOT tions 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 twenty-five millions, making a total of seventy-five millions. In addition, an appropriation of one million dol lars year for ten years, total of ten million dollars, 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 highway departments.
 App0rti0nment of Funds Among
 States.
 The act provides that after making necessary deductions for administer ing its provisions-not to exceed 8 per cent of the appropriation for any one fiscal year-the Secretary of Ag- riculture shall apportion the re- mainder of each years appropriation in the following manner:
 One-third in the ratio which the l of I 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
 Estimates of Funds Needed For
 Projects.
 Project statements setting forth the proposed construction of any rural post road or roads in State are to be submitted by the State highway department to the Secretary of Agri- culture, and upon approval by the Secretary all necessary surveys, plans, specifications and estimates must be furnished. The roads pro jected must be of a substantial char acter, and items covering engineer ing, inspection and unforeseen contin. gencies are not to exceed ten per cent of the total estimated cost of tue work.
 Upon completion of the work as approved by the Secretary, the amount set aside for the project is to be paid to the proper State official. The Secretary of Agriculture is given authority in his discretion to make partial payments as the work progresses, but not in excess of the Federal governments pro rate share of the labor and material which have been actually put into construction work nor in excess of $10,000 per Imile, exclusive of the cost of bridges of more than 20 feet clear span. All construction work is subject to the n- spection and approval of the Secre- tary of Agriculture.
 States Charged With Maintenance.
 The various States securing aid under the provisions of the act are charged with the making of needed repairs and the preservation of a l l-....a,.a Ll., craooth ci1,.f aca cancider.