The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-08-26
FEDERAL APPROVAL FOR
HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
Regulations Governing Policy and Pro-
Cedure During War Period Made
Known by United States
Highways Council.

The United States highways council to-
day made public its regulations, effective
Sept. 10, governing highway and street
work during the period of the war. Fed
eral approval is required for practically
all highway construction.
mo manufacture" the councils an
nouncement says, will furnish any road
building material until the project has
been approved by the United States high
ways councils"
The proposed work that should be first
submitted TO the United States highways
council through the appropriate state
highway department, is defined as fol
lows:
"All proposed highway, street, culvert
and bridge construction, reconstruction
and maintenance involving: (a) the issu-
ance of bonds; (b) the use Of rail or
water transportation; tcl the use of coal
or oil as fuel; (d) the use of cement,
brick, asphalt, oil, tar, crushed stone, or
steel (also sand and gravel where short
age exists as highway material.
The council urges that new highway
and street construction be confined to
most essential needs, and announces that
it win give first consideration to the
maintenance of highways already COM
pleted. Reconstruction is to be fayorably
considered only where it is clear that
maintenance is no longer possible except
at prohibitiye cost.
Military Ryads First.
New construction, it is announced, will
be given consideration by the council in
the following order:
First, highways and streets of military
value, used regularly for the transporta-
ton of military supplies in considerable
quantity, for the movement as an estab-
lished practice of army-truck trains, or
essential TO the efficient operation of a
military cantonment, post, or plant; sec
ond highways and streets Of national
economic value, serving directly to pro-
mote the national welfare and not mere
~ local welfare; third unfinished con-
tracts involving contractural obligations
incurred prior to April 5, 1918, where
bond issue is involved which may not be
disturbed without serious consequences !;
fourth, streets and highways which al
though not of national economic impor-
lance are of extreme local Importance,
and the construction Of which has pro
crossed TO such point that serious hard
ship would be caused if their construc-
tion or completion should be postponed.
The council is soon to begin, in coop
Grafton with the bureau Of public roads
of the United States department of agri-
culture, and the state highway depart
ments, preparation of program of road
and street construction, reconstruction
and maintenance throughout the United
States, for the working season of 1919,
The purpose is to approximate the
character and amount of work deemed
essential for 1919, with the amount and
character of financing and materials in
yolved, and the probable demand on rail
and water transportation and labor sup
ply The preparation of the program in
each state is to be in charge of the
state highway department.
The United States highways council Is
composed Of representatives from the de-
partment of agriculture, the war depart
ment, the railroad administration, the
war industries board, and the fuel admin
istation, Logan Waller Page, director Of
the bureau of public roads, is chairman
of the council.