St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1916-02-26
THE AMERICAN HIGHWAY AS
AOCIATION.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 16.-If
the Senate pass the Shackleford bill,
which got through tae House by a
clean majority of 200, the $25,00O,-
900 appropriation provided in the
bill out of the public treasury to aid
in the construction of post roads
will not be Immediately available for
tae use of the Senate in road con-
struct:on. The appo-t;onment and
distribution of tae money Will be un
der the direction of the Sec. etary of
Agriculture on conditions which he
will prescribe. The money will not
be s1oveled out of the treasury 'just
So to pie Sc the constituen cies OF
any Representative or Senator or
particular group of Representative
or Senators who may have been most
active In the enactment OF the law
and the man with the largest slove,
will not get for that reason the big
gest share of the fund. Other tl.ngs
being equal the .ates with we'll or
g,n zed highway departments will be
preferred in the distribution, .le law
assuming that the states which hive
lie roads under com e'ent direction
can be most safely entrusted with
the disposition of the fund appor-
toned by the Congress at Wash ng.
ton.
The states must first make appli-
cation to the secretary Of az: icultu-e
for aid IN the construction Of an.
rural post rosd, the secretary must
determine whether or not the appn-
cation falls within the provisions O.
the bill and If the application IS ap
proved by him the road must be butt
UPON plans and specifications approx
ed by aim and within such estimate
as to cost as IN his judgment woulf
be fair and reasonable. In order
that the government get what 1t pays
for the secretary will be required tc
inspect through its agents the quail
ty of construc ion and n, no case
can he pay less than 80 per cent nor
more than so per cent of the reason
able cost of construction and main
tenance of any rural post road.
will be seen, therefore, tlat the Fed
eral Trees ury will be securely guard !!
ed in the expenditure of the good |
roads fund and that this FIND VIII |
roads fund and that this fund will |
THIS is tne first ste
towards taking the public roads and I
their buildings, maintenance and ad- I
m 'nis.rat:cn out Of politics, the bane !
Of all efforts heretofore made look. I
ing to the permanent i'm orovement |
Of tne highways of the country.
MT IVy Vry$H ho -
ricultule direct the apportionment |
and distribution Of the Federal aid
fund and designate the roads for i'm
but he will pass upon
he Character of roads that sh,ll be
and this is a most I'M
ooItant element in the whole prob
en- There are in the United t
States about 2,24O.00O miles of pub /
ic roads: but it is not intended or
lesired or necessary that tley should
Ill be constructed Of the SINE ma
terials Or on the same plan They
must be surveyed and located by
engineers so that thej
give the best service to 41e t-aTc
hey must be drained 80 as to make
hem available for use IN all condi
LUIS VI WCdlACl. tuCy US KI1u-
ID and surfaced and provided witt
bridges End culve.ts, End they QUIZ
% be of standard width: Blu. thev
~nnot be and need not be construct
ID of the same materials. It g est
mated by the Urised S a+es Office Of
Public Roads and Rur-l Fng'nee NJ
hat the thorough scientific im-:ov> j
nent OF the country. would take ca~e
II 80 per cent of the traiFc; but th'e
Improvement mus be made on az .
proved plars directed by eFicien
'ui.ders end with careful regard t.
he service required OF t1e o :,
70 improved. It would be vase 80
mend rubl'c money en- the almos'
task Of improving hun /
reds Of thous nds Of mics Of orancl {
'oads that lead to the IA m 81
atler than to build the min road
% that the farmers. by draining and
lragging the mile or two necessary