Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-10-06
Government hrows Safety
Around The New Road Fund

WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 6.-EIab-
crate plans to prevent the diversion in
to improper channels of any part of
the $75,000,000 which the federal gov
eminent 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 En-
cheering which will supervise the
work.
The government is determined, offic-
ials say, that there shall be no repeti-
ton Of the lax methods and waste
which have characterized the building
of roads in many sections and that a
dollars worth of road bed shall be
INSTRUCTED for every dollar spent Fur
Their, the Public Roads office is prepar-
ing to see to it that he roads for which
the government money is spent are
places where the traffic demand is the
heaviest and not where politicians or
others desire them.
Rules and Regulations.
The plans designed to prevent abus-
es are covered largely in rules and
regulations promulgated by Secretary
Houston, of the Department Of Agricul-
ture, under 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,
provide that detailed information in
reference to the proposed construction
and maintenance shall be furnished to
the secretary of Agriculture before any
agreements are made,
When the plans of a state for road
building, accompanied by request for
federal aid are received, they will be
fully investigated by government
agents and if acceptable the state will
receive from the government it appor
tionment of the appropriation made Off
the purpose. Under the terms of the act
the federal government pays the bill
for one half the cost and the state pays
the other half More than a score of
states have indicated their intention to
ask for federal aid and two, California
and Connecticut, have filed formal APP
rlications.
Project statements made to the De-
partment, according to 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, are or will
be available by or on behalf of the state
for construction; (c) what purpose the
project will serve and how it correl-
ates with other highway work of the
state; Id the administrative control
of, and responsibility for, the pro-
ject; (e) the practicability and econ
omy of the project from an engineer
ing and constructive standpoint; 81
the adequacy of the plans and provis-
ions for the proper maintenance of
roads; and (g) the approximate
amount of Federal aid desired"
Submit to Secretary,
With each statement there must be
submitted for the approval of the
Secretary copies of the forms of con-
tract; together with all documents re-
merred to therein, and the contractors
bond.
Each project statement also must
be accompanied by sketch map
showing the location of the proposed
project and the main contiguous
transportation features, and suitable
samples of material must be submit
ted whenever requested. Where any
part of the cost of project is to be
fuTnisher by subdivision of state,
certified copies of resolutions or
orders respecting the funds must be