The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-11

outlay in 1919, and 1t would seem that II the federal government is to become an influential factor in highway work, It's contribution should be very materi- ally increased. For example, if the total cash expenditure in 1919 throughout the country should be $400. 900. 900 the amount which would be apportioned un- der the present federal aid road act, would represent only per cent of the total
 9. It is the consensus of the best thought of the nation that public inn provements of all sorts should be vigor- ously pushed at this time, in order that labor and industry may be given maxi mum opportunities for continuous em- ployment and operation. largely in- creased federal appropriation for rem dering more effective the federal aid road act would be powerful force in this direction.
 10.5It may b@ pointed out that highway work and particularly all distribution of highway work as carried on under the federal aid road act, would result in a very widespread activity so that no part of the country need be without inn portant highway improvement projects giving direct employment to many men. insuring a free circulation of cash. and thus stimulating many local industries
 
 season would not only give direct em- ployment, but would react most bene- fcially upon great many industries Among these may be mentioned the fol- lowing: Cement, paving brick, crushed stone, sand and gravel tar oil and as phalt, road machinery, steam shovels, motor trucks, steel bridges, metal pipes and culverts.
 F. Only few minor weaknesses have developed in the federal aid road act, one of which is comprised in the def milton of rural post road as set forth in section 2 The present definition is held by the legal authorities to require the submission of evidence to show that the mails are actually carried over the road proposed to be improved, or that there is a reasonable prospect that this will be done. In view of the devious manner in which mail routes are located so as to reach individual patrons, it is in many cases impossible to establish a main road so as to conform to mail routes Accordingly, it is suggested that by substituting the word "can'' for may the necessity for evidence as to the probability of mails being carried oven the road will be eliminated
 13. The great increase in the cost of road construction renders negotiable the restriction of the federal aid to $10ooo q Iuile, Us III very many cases main roads cost much more than $20 0O0 and the purpose of the government to share the burden of cost to as much as 50 per cent is defeated so long as this limita- tion is in the act.
 IA The proposed amendment carries $50 0O,e00 to be made immediately avail able and $75,000,000 to become available July 1, 1918, thus providing $l25. .00o, GOO ad- ditional to funds already available for 1919, so that there may be an unusually large amount of work carried on during the coming season. After that year the sum of S75,000,000 is made available in 1920. which, with the $25,00OO09 to be- come available under the existing fed eral aid road act. would make s1O0,0oo- 0o0 and thereafter the sum of .sloo, ,0Oo oOo is made available fors each of three years.