The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-07-16
Federal Aid for Roads.

FEDERAL cooperation in BODYBUILDING for many years the
ardent desire of state and local road officials has at last become
reality 1t generally held by those best informed concerning the
economic technical and administrative problems OF road building
and maintenance that the law granting federal aid to the
states road construction is the most important step forward
highway affairs that has been taken in the United States
means that cooperation between the states and their sub
divisions and the national government the experience gained IN
part Of the country will be available promptly in every other
part Administrative methods and the laws on which they are
based will be subjected to critical study and technical matters VIII
become standardized The waste of money poor work
done by local authorities will undoubtedly be reduced by the ed
caona effect taxpayers of the good roads built by federal aid
The stand taken Congress regarding the maintenance OF high
ways will be of great help to the state officials in their endeavor
to keep their highways in good condition ,
~, ol,o
they have constructed and that such repair and maintenance
shall be charge upon the states political divisions IN Wcn ne
roads are consucd and that further appointments OF ted
era funds shall be made any state division in which the re-
pairs and maintenance have not been made to the satisfaction OF
the terms of the law until its location character and cost nave been
approved by the secretary Every road project with he paS
specifications and estimates of cost must be approved by the sec
rotary before part OF the federal approraGn can De R
poroned to it under the law The secretary is forDdaen O inc
law approve any road project which not substantial IN cha
acr He cannot make any payment for the construction OF any
road in excess of $4,000 the mile The construction work ana
labor in each state to be done accordance with the laws OF the
state and under the direct supervision of the state highway depart
ment subject however the inspection and approval of the
secretary of agriculture without which the state cannot share in
the apporonment of the federal appropriation Inc law aunor
ICES the secretary to expnd three per centum OF e appropriation
for any fiscal year for administration
No can any share the federal appropriation which
does not agree to the terms of the law 1t is ty PROPOSE
finn The state which puts up dollar for building rural post
road will get dollar from the United States upon compliance
with the conditions named the law. Nothing is taken for grant
ed 1t is all written down in the law There to be no politics IN
lit no favortsm no interstate ransconnenta other high
way system already projected or dreamed out by
and the necessary approval of the secretary of agriculture 1t
sound problem thought out by the most careful pG
men With the single object Of providing ample ways for the
business of the and the traffic Of the people Too much
cannot be said appreciation of the faithful and intelligent serv
vice Senator Bankhead Alabama IN pushing s great con-
structive act to successful completion