Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-08
FULL VALUE FOR
GOOD ROADS AID
GOVERNMENT ADOPTS ELABO.
RATE PLANS TO SAFEGUARD
SPENDING OF THE $4,000, 900
DOLLARS WORTH FOR EVERY DOLLAR
Money to Be Spent in Cooperation
With States Only Where
Traffic Needs It. psa

Traffic Needs It. rza
Washington Elaborate plans 10
prevent the diversion into improper
channels OF any part OF the $4,000
900, which the Federal Government is
o spend in cooperation with States
on good roads within the next five
Years. have been made by Logan Wal.
Ter Page, director OF the Office ot
Public Roads and Rural Engineering
which viii supervise the work.
fhe Government is determined, OIL
,iaIs say, that there shall be no repeti-
ION of lax methods and waste which
nave characterized building OF roads
" many sections, ana that \ dollars
worth of road bed shall be construct
Cd ior every dollar spent. Further,
ne public roads office is preparing 10
zee 10 il that the roads for which the
Government money is spent are
places where the traffic demand is the
heaviest and not where politicians OF
others desire them.
The plans designed TO proven,
abuses are covered largely in rules
and regulations promulgated by Sec
Ietary Houston. of the Department ol
Agriculture, under authority conferred
By tho 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 in
formation IN reference TO the pro
posed construction and maintenance
hall be furnished 10 the Secretary
OF Agriculture before any agreements
are made.
Wien the plans OF State for roa1
building. accompanied by reques
for Federal aid are received. the,
aIi be fully Investigated by Govern
ment agents, and, il acceptable. the
State will receive from the Govern
ment its appOrtionment of the ap-
preparation made for the purpose.
t ndet the terms OF the act the Fed
er.l Government pays the bill Tor
Cne-half the cost and the State pays
The other half.
Project statements made 10 the de.
parlnent, according 10 the rules ana
regulations. are required TO contait.
all information necessary TO enable
1tr the project conforms 60 the re.
Qulremcnts OF the act, 90 whether
adequate funds, or their equivalent.
are or Will be available by or on be-
Ialf of the State for construction;
tcl what purpose the project viii
-er,e and how it corrsIates with 9th.
or highway work OF the State; (d)
he administrative control OF. and
responsibility for, the project, lel
he practicability and economy OF the
project from an engineering and con
struction standpoint, U) the AIDE
cquacy of the plans and provisions
Ior proper maintenance of roads; anG
/ 90 the approximate amount of Fed
efal aid desired
With each statement there must be
submitted for the approval OF the
Secretary copies OF the forms Of cor
tract. together with all documents
eterted to therein and the contt.,c-
Tors bond.
II Il contract should be awarded to
auy l'her than the lowest responsib bic
bidder the Government will not pay
more than its pro rata OF the loves.
hid unless il can be satisfactory
blown that il WAS advantageous 40
The work 10 accept the higher bid
Copies OF all contracts must b. Ger
flied by the respective State nish.
way departments and furnished the
Office OF the public roads. am speciti-
cations and plans must he made y
part OF all contracts.
Unless otherwise specified in writ.
ing by the Secretary Of Agriculture,
materials Tor construction, prior 10
use. must be tested for conformity
with specifications.
The Office Of public r1lus viii, as
lar a. is practicable, endearor 10 have
the roads of one State connect with
those of another The effort viii be
20 have the roads continuous in the
States, and patches here and patches,
there will not be constructed out 81
any Of the Federal none" unless they
should be In localities where the
raliie is heavy and the demand great.
For instance. in some cases plans FOR
roads branching out from market o.
industrial eenters TO thicklv popu-
lated sections would be acceptable Ia
the Government regardless of wheth
or they connect with other market
OF industrial, centerS.
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II You h~,c Ios. anyfhlnc you car