The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-04-12
Federal Aid in Road Building.


of them having in mind the matter
of securing federal aid through the
offices of the State highway commits
sion, it is perhaps we'll to present
briefly the conditions under which
federal aid is to be had by the sew
eral counties, according to a recent
digest of the federal aid act by MIR.
Meade Homes, of the University of
South Carolina, member of the
State commission. The appropria-
ton by the federal government for
this purpose extends over period of
five years. Before July l, 1922, there
will have come into the hands of the
State highway commission of South
Carolina $1,O77,114.6O to be dis
tributed. BY the first of next July
the State highway commission will
have 1000. To quote Mr.. Homes:
These funds are available for the
use of the various counties only when
applied for by the State highway COM
mission, after the counties have
agreed to let the State highway COM
mission have active charge of the
construction and maintenance of the
road or roads on which these funds
are to be expended, and on the condi-
ton that the counties put up at least
an equal amount in money, labor or
materials, and further provide funds
for the proper maintenance of these
roads.
LAS a general proposition the fed
eral funds in conjunction with the
equal funds provided by the counties
can only be spent by contracts, let on
competitive bidding, by the State
highway commission.
Estate highway commission can let
contract for the succeeding year be-
fore funds become available to cover
that contract.
Before any federal funds can be
obtained, State highway commission
must map out a general plan for
using the entire federal appropria-
tions for the five years, and have this
plan approved by the secretary of ag-
riculture. In order for this plan to
be approved by the secretary of ag-
riculture it must comprise a COM
plete| unit system of roads of prime
Importance, and not be disconnect-
ed system of short local roads. The
department of agriculture will not al
low a general scattering of the funds
to all of the counties, but will only
approve projects for those counties
that will provide enough funds to
construct roads of prime Importance.
It will be useless for any county to
apply for federal aid on any road or
roads. unless such road or roads are
important and of fairly good length,
and preferably connecting two or
more towns. For such purposes a
considerable fund will be available.
LAS to the character of the con-
struction, the secretary of agriculture
has ruled that as long as the type of
the proposed road is suited to the
traffic restrictions, no restrictions
will be placed on the materials of
construction; but the road must be
constructed of materials that will
stand the traffic it has to carry.
Funds cannot be used through towns
or cities of more than $500 inhabi-
tants, except portions where houses
are more than 200 feet apart.
H'The government will not pay
more than $4,000 per mile, exclusive
of bridges over 20-foot span, but
State and county may add to this
without limit.
Not over 10 per cent. can be used
for engineering.
"In order for a project to be ap-
proved the State highway commission
must have made complete surveys,
maps, plans and estimates, showing
clearly the proposed work.
amy county failing to provide
funds to maintain it's roads so con-
structed will cause the withdrawal of
all federal aid.
'The work during construction and
| thereafter is subject to inspection
and approval by representatives OF
the secretary of agriculture in order
| to get federal aid.
''No restrictions as to kind and
hours of labor, etc.
Funds will be advanced as work
progresses.
"No toll roads with federal funds.
"Adequate funds for maintenance
must be provided or assured before