Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-11

Ohio NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1913 200
Oklahoma NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 11S,250
Oregon OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. S1,450
Pennsylvania ............. 239. 050
Rhode Island .......... 12,050
South Carolina ......... 74100
South Dakota ........ S3,750
{ Tennessee Observation-Disclosures. 11S,250
Texas NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 3O1. $50
Utah .............. $3.50
ermOnt %, 500
! virginia 1OZ,OUO
Washington ....... 1920
( West Virginia ........... $3.50
Wisconsin NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1872, 200
Wyoming Observation-Disclosures. $3.50
Routes and construction materials
of the new roads are to be finally de-
termined by the secretary of agricul-
ture. No public road can be built
under the law until its location, cost
and character are approved by him
Every road project with plans, speci-
+ fcatiOns and cost estimates must be
given his approval before any of the
federal money shall be available.
/ There is no specific requirement that
such roads shall be permanent, but the
act declares they shall be substantial
in character" the secretary being
given discretion to construe the ques-
+ ton of substantiability in each sepa-
rate case
! A limit Of $4,000 per mile, however,
+ is the maximum by the law to prevent
use of the government funds in build
ing costly bOulevards which would not
assist in rural development
+ Whether the new roads built under
the 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 agri-
culture. Construction of both is eX-
pected- At the proposed conference of
state highway representatives here, it
is believed that proposals for a com
p-ehensive, cOrrelative bodybuilding
scheme will be reached. The Ameri-
can Highway association, the Ameri-
can Automobile association and other
good roads organizations are interest
ed in such coordination and correla-
ton Of the public roads throughout tho
entire nation Development of the ma
IiOnal road system as a whole is tbs
broad scheme and aim OF government
officials, with the aid of state authori-
ties
/ The machinery for cooperative ac-
ton is substantially as follows: States
desiring TO secure their share of the
federal funds, will, through their high
way commissions or departments, file
formal applications, submitting the
route and character Of roads proposed
70 the secretary OF agriculture. Should
he approve the projects, the secretary
OF agriculture will notify the state
commissions and the secretary Of the
treasury. The latter will then set
aside the share of the United States,
which shall not exceed 80 per cent Of
the cost. The secretary OF agriculture
will order payment of the fedora
funds upon completion Of the roads.
and is also authorized to make partia
payments as construction proceeds.
The construction work and labor in
each state is to be done in accordance
with state laws and under immediate
supervision of the state highway de-
partment, subject to inspection ana
approval by government engineers
This leaves the states in control OF
the construction, subject only to in
sure good designs.
Selection Of the road routes, a,
well as their type and structural COM
position is also left primarily 20 the
state officials. subject to approval or
rejection by the secretary of agTicul-
ture.
To secure a share Of the federal
funds. state legislatures or counties
must appropriate sums equal to the
federal allotments. The act also re
uuires formation of state highway
commissions, or a similar state agency,
to have charge of the states part OF
the work. Four states, Indiana, South
Carolina, Georgia and Texas, have no
such commissions or corresponding
organizations, but TO secure federal
funds they must be organized. Other
states have no highway commissions,
but have substantially similar depart
ments or agencies.
Where states, like Illinois, are pro-
hibited by their constitutions or other
wise prevented from acting under the
proposed contributory plan, the act
provides that the federal apprOpria-
lions may become available to separate
counties when they shall match the
governments contributions, such
roads. of course, being built only with
in the contributing counties.
To give the states ample time to
build roads and TO guard against
hasty or extrayagant construction, the
law also provides that unexpended fed
eraI appropriations each year shall be
available during the succeeding year
while this years allotments to statef
which have no highways departments
shall be available for three years, 10
give state legislatures time to create
such departments
For enforcement Of the provision re
curing the states. to maintain the new
roads without federal assistance, the
secretary OF agriculture is authorized
10 disapproye Of further roads projects
from such states or their civil subdi-
visions and deny further government
aid if roads are not put in proper con-
dition after four months notice.
Development Of federal corps OF
highway engineers is one Of the re-
suits expected from the new law. Civil