Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-03-05
New Law Aids Great
Highway Program

With full state corporation accord
Ing to the terms of the federal Aid
act, the UNITED states will have a
total Of at least $4,000, 600 for CO.
operative road building during the next
three years, The federal part OF this
Ration of 3a09, 100000 in the post
office appropriation bill just passed by
congress and signed by the president.
Officials of the bureau OF public
roads, which administer the provisions
of the federal aid road act and CO.
operates with the state governments
In the expenditure of the money, point
out that this amount OF funds is the
largest ever appropriated for similar
purposes and FOR n similar period by
any government In the history OF the
world, and that IL enables the feder-
al and state governments to carry
out road building program OF mag
nitudc never equaled.
In connection with the great federal
aid program ii Is also noted that cS-
United States this year are likely to
amount to half billion dollars or
more. on reports received from state
highway departments. the Bureau OF
Public Roads estimates the 1919 eN-
penditures for roads and bridges at
$3S5,O0O,0 900. or 100000 more than
the average expenditures for 1916 and
1917.
Road Definitions Broadened.
An important effect Of the law con-
tanning the new appropriation is that
it broadens the definition OF rural
post road. under which class high
way had to qualify in order to receive
the benefits of the Federal aid act.
Under the old act it was required
that mail should actually be carried
on the road or that there should be
reasonable prospect that mail would
be carried on IL within a short time
after improvement. The new act says,
"the term rural post road shall be con-
structed to mean any public Nroad.
ma jor portion Of which Is now used
or can be used or forms connecting
link not to exceed ten miles in length.
Of any road or roads now or hereafter
used for the transportation Of the
United States mails. excluding every
street and road in a place having
population. as shown by the latest
available Federal censes. Of $500 or
more, except that portion of any such
street or road along which the houses
average more than 200 feet apart
( Government Limit Raised.
The new act also raises the govern
ment limit Of contribution from not to
exceed 10000 a mile to not to exceed
$4,000 a mi1e taking account OF high
err cost OF labor and materials.
The law also authorizes the secre-
tary Of war to transfer to the Secre-
tary of Agriculture material. equip
ment and supplies suitable for high
way Improvement and not needed ny
the war department.
OF the 5000 100000 added TO the
funds available under the Federal Aid
Road Act. the new law makes $4,000
900 available for expenditure by the
secretary of agriculture for roads and
trails within or partly within the
It also provides other
measures which are expected to give
great impetus to the development of
the road systems in the national for
ests
The original federal road act. which
became law in July. 1916, appropriates
s75,ooO.0oo to aid in the construction
of post roads during a fiveyear period
ending June 30, 1921. and s10.000,0O0 to
aid In forest-road building during a
ten year period ending June, 30. 1926.
Not over 5 900. 900 OF the original $50
10000 had been expended prior to
1919, SO that sS2.0O0.000 plus sos. o00,-
900. or a total of 1921 900, 900 OF federal
funds. will be available. OF which
s2S7, 900. 900 will be available during
the next three years. The act and its
amendment require the States to pro-