Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-15
THE HIGHWAY COUNCIL
CONSIDERS NEW ROADS

Chief Engineer Sargent Of the
State Highway Commission. who Is
a member Of the Executive Commit
tee Of the American Association Of
State Highway Officials, returned
Saturday from conference at Wash
ington, D. c.. called by the Director
of the Office of Public Roads and
Rural Engineering.
The conference was called for the
purpose Of discussing with the United
States Highways Council, recently
organized, the question of submitting
to the council all highway projects
proposed TO be undertaken by the
states or cities and towns during the
period Of the war. There was also
considered at another session Of the
conference the question of inequit-
able freight charges for road build :
ing materials under General Orde:
No. 70 recently promulgated by the
Director General of Railroads.
The United States Highways Coun-
Gil is composed of the Director OF
the Office of Public Roads, who is the
lcStIl9IlNt VI tHe secretary OF
Agriculture in all matters pertaining
to federal aid a representative Of the
Quartermaster' office in the War
Department, a representative of the
Fuel Administration: a representa-
tive of the War Industries Board .
and representative of the Railroad
Administration.
1t is proposed that beginning in the
immediate future the highway pro-
)ects calling for the use of other than
purely loca, materials shall be sub
mitted to this Council. The Council
VIII pass upon each project submit
ted as to the following points through
the respective officers named above
l. National economic importance.
?. Military Importance.
8. Amount of bituminous material
required for the project.
4. AS TO whether or not su,h
material can be spared from avail
able materials needed by the govern
ment in connection with its construc
ton program on account of war ac-
Invites.
.. AS to whether or not cars are
available for the movement of The
material in i given territory.
Mr. Sargent states that since this
country declared war this is the fr,;t
time that the real seriousness Of tha
situation has been forcefully brought
to his attention. The representative
of the War Industries Board made il
plain that the building program now
under consideration and probably
shortly to be launched by the gov
eminent would absolutely absorb al
available building materials and
practically all free labor in the coln-
try.
The representatives of the State
Highway Officials pledged their as
soclatlon to cooperate to the fullest
extent with the federal admnistra :
ton in their program to win the war
and declared that only highway con
struction projects Of the utmost
economic and military importance
would he presented to the Unite !
States Highways Council for consid .
Grafton.
In discussing the question Of
freight rates on highway materials,
under General Order No. IS, it was
found that on account of increases
on fiat ton basis many of these ma
terials are forced to carry increased
freight rates, varying from so to 500
per cent. over rates formerly in eff
feet AS the result of this discussion
a resolution was adopted and a com
mittee was appointed to present the
same to the Railroad Administra-
ton. Mr.. Sargent acted as chairman
Of this committee in behalf Of thu
Association of State Highway Off
Gals. The resolutions were present
ed by the committee on Thursday
afternoon.
About 40 delegates were present at
the conference representing the AS
ISOLATION of State Highway officials,
the Highway Industries Association,
and allied interests.