The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-04-22
WORK ON ROADS
TO Be RUSHED
Construction This Year to Exceed
Volume of Any Year
in History.
LARGER FUNDSARE AVAILABLE
IT All the States Take ADVANTAGE of
Federal Appropriation $343, 100000
Will Be Expended-Freiqht
Rates an Obstacle.

Washington.-Ma important steps
have been taken to expedite road con
struction under the enlarged program
recently authorized by congress, and
the indications are that a larger vol
ume of highway construction will be
accomplished this season than in any
previous year in the history Of the ma
ton, according to a statement issued
by David f. Houston, secretary of
agriculture.
The requisite official machinery,
says the secretary. for executing this
program-that is, the department of
agriculture, Fhrough the bureau of
public roads on the one hand and the
4S state highway departments on the
other-is already in existence. A con-
ference was held by the secretary on
March | with the state highway COM
missiOners of the Eastern and middle
| Western states, and all phases of the
problem, and especially the interpre-
| tation of the liberal amendments of
: the federal aid road act, were consid-
| ered
lie appointment VI 1UOllldS MAJ
Donald, chief engineer of the Iowa
state highway commission, as engineer
in immediate charge of the work of
the bureau of public roads under the.
federal aid road act, has just been an
nounced by the secretary, and it is
planned that in the near future, Mr..
Macdonald will formally assume the
position of director of the bureau of
public roads.
Freight Rates an Obstacle.
1t developed at the conference that
the present freight rates are one of
the principal obstacles to the active
resumption and extension of highway
activities. The situation was laid be-
fore the proper officials of the railroad
administration on March ] by repre-
sentatives of the department of agri-
culture and of the state highway Off
Gals.
They were given sympathetic hear
ing, and the question is now under ac-
tive consideration by the railroad ad- /
ministration. Secretary Houston also |
has taken up with the secretary of |
war the question of releasing from the |
army highway engineers in this coun- |
try and abroad, in order that their
services may be utilized during the
coming road-construction season.
The secretarys statement in part is
as follows:
During the war it was necessary to
curtail road-construction operations
because of the difficulties of securing ,
materials and the re-
luisite services. Now that the situa-
ion has changed. the work will be ac-
lively resumed and vigorously prose-
.uted Notwithstanding the fact that
conditions are still abnormal in some
especially with reference to
he prices of materials and supplies.
Congress at it's last session not only
made available from the federal treas
Try large additional sums for road
obstruction, but also made some i'm
ortant amendments to the federal aid
DAD act These amendments will have
he effect of greatly lessening the diff
ulties of selecting and constructing
eeded roads,
"The amount of federal funds avail I
yer $72,OOO0OO, which under the law
lust be matched by at least an equal
mount from the states. 5
More Funds July I.
ION July 1, 800 ,0OO,0OG more of fed :
raj funds will become available for
eneral road purposes and 100000
IT national forest roads, which, with l
lual contributions from the states,
i'll provide an additional $19S,O0000O S
n federal aid road work, making an
ygregate sum of $343, 100000 for the
llendar year.
"In other words the 1919 program
II federal aid road building is greater Sc
AN any previous annual road build 81
G accomplishments in this country. ie
1.-THE states and their civil subdivi- III
ons also will carry on a large amount
road work without federal aid. The
tent of this is uncertain and will w
pend upon local labor. industrial and ne
,ricultural conditions. The present ! Il
dications are that approximately Sc
will be spent in this way I'll
"The purpose Of the federal aid road WI
W is to encourage the construction of
ads of a substantial nature by the sh
ates and to provide adequate safe 20
ards for securing systematic and SO
onOmical action. Long experience Gil
S shown that the best results will stt
secured if the work is performed IL
der the supervision of the state high
y departments, the method of the
ntrol depending upon local condi-
ns." tit