Evening journal., 1919-04-03
PLAN TO RUSH
NATIONS ROADS
$343. 100000 to be Spen,
Under Federal Direc-
ton in 1919
TO PASS A L
SPEED RECORDS

WASHINGTON, April 3.-Many i'm
portant steps have been taken 10 ex-
pedite road construction under the en-
larged program recently authorized by
Congress, and The indications are that
la. ger volume OF highway c0nstruc-
tion Will be accomplished IN S season
than in any previous year in the his
tory OF the nation, according 10 a state
ment issued by David + Houston, Sec
retary OF Agriculture.
The requisite offic al machinery says
the secretary, for eXecutig this pro-
gram-that is, the Department Of Agri-
culture, through the bureau OF public
rOals on the one hand and the forty
eight State highway departments on
the other-is al. eady in existence a
conference was held by the secretary
with the State Highway Comm ssioners
Of the Eastern and Middle Western
States and all phases Of the problem
were considered.
The regulations have been revised In
The light Of experience and Of the sug-
gestions offered by the State Highway
Departments; the standards for plans.
Specifications and estimates have been
modified 20 meet spec al conditions ex-
islng IN some Of the States, and other
charges in practices and procedure
have been and are being made-all
with the definite object Of speeding up
the work. The appointment Of Thomas
II. Macdonald, chief engineer OF the.
Iowa State Highway COmmiss on, as
engineer In immediate charge Of the
work, has been announced In the near
future he will assume the position OF
director Of the bureau OF public
roads.
Secretary Houston has taken up with
the Secretary OF War the question Of
releasing from the army highway en-
gineers In this country and abroad, 10
order that they services may be u6l-
lied during the coming road consuuc-
ton season.
The secretary's statement is as fol-
lows:
During the war it was necessary to
curtail road construction. Now that
the situation has changed. the work
VIII be actively resumed and vigorously
prosecuted, notwithstanding the tact
that conditions are still abnormal In
some respects. especially with refer
ence 10 the prices Of materials and
supplies. Il is not believed that the
people Of the nation can wait for
prices to receda before beginning in
dustrial operations. Such hesitation
viii add TO the difficulties instead Of
tightening them.
"The amount Of Federal funds avail
able for road building on March was
more than 81. 100000. which under the
law must be matched by at least an
equal amount from the states, making
a total OF si45S00. including approN-
mately s9.sOOO0O from Federal and
state sources for roads IN the national
forests. on July 4. s95,0O0,OOO more OF
Federal funds will become evailable Tor
general road purposes and 100000 for
nation forst roads, which, with equal
contributions from the states, will pro-
vide an additional si9S.O00OOO for Fed
ersl aid road work, making an agsre-
gate sum Of s3i3,sO0.00O for the calen-
dar year.
In other words, the 1919 program
for Federal aid road building is greater
than any previous annual road-building
accomplishments In this country. 1t IS
so great in fact. th0t the States will
undoubtedly defer taking up part OF
the federal funds until 1920. because ex-
perienced contracting and engineering
organizations must b. developed from
the stagnant conditions Of the war
period. before any exceptional amount
Of road building gets under way.
"The States and their civil subdivi-
sions also will carry on a large amount
Of road work without federal aid. The
extent Of this Is uncertain, and will de-
pend upon local laboc industrial and
agricultural conditions. The present in
dcations are that approximately $780,
100000 will be spent in this way.
Limitations on Type.
"The federal aid road act, as amened.
places only three limitations on the
type Of road to be CONSTRUCTED, as fol-
lows
First. That the roads shall be sub
stantial in character.
Second. The amount contributed
from the federal treasury in conec-
ton with any road shall not exceed
$4,000 a mile.