Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-23
HIGHWAY WORK ooEs ON.
Prosrsss o. Federal Undertakings De-
seribsd BY Secretary.

Presrsss o. Federal Undertakings D..
seribsd BY Secretary.
Delayed in Its program Of good roads
construction by the war and confront
ed ut the end Of that period By con.
diton Of badly rundown Highways,
the federal government, cooperating
with the highway departments OF the
several states, has resumed the vigor-
Gus prosecution Of the work. and, says
David F. Houston. secretary OF agri-
culture, there Is now no special OBJ
stacls to the construction. In the dif-
ferent states OF the union. Of those
roads which serve the greatest eco
nom!c needs. In his annual report,
Secretary Houston says:
Good roads are essential to the pros
perity and well.bsins Of urban ana
rural communities alike. They are
prerequisite for the orderly and sys-
tematic marketing Of farm products.
for the establishment Of satisfactory
rural schools. and for the development
Of . richer and more attractive rural
life. Recognizing these facts, the fed
eral government thru the passage OF
the federal aid road act In 1915, IN
ausurated = policy Of direct financial
participation In road building opera
tons in the various states. This act
appropriated t7s,oeo,cee. to b matched
By an equal amount from the states,
FOR the construction Of furA post
roads over = period Of f'vs years. and
SIC, 900. ooo-$l! 100000 = year for ten
years-for roads within or partly
within the national forests. II feQuir-
I'd each state to have = responsible
osntral highway commiRsion with the
requisite powers and funds. All the
states have compiled with the terms
Of the act, altho Il was necessary for
them to enact additional legislation. or
to amend their constitutions; to pro-
vide sufficient funds to match the fed
eral apporuonmsnt; ana to strengthen
existing central highway bodies or to
create new agencies.
when these preliminary steps had
been practically completed and the de-
partment and the states were about
ready to proceed vigorously With the
actual construction Of reads, the Uni
ted States entered the war. II soon
became necessary grsatly to curtaif
highway building because Of the dif-
fieulty OF securing transportation. con-
struction materials, and the requisite
services. After thu armistice was
signed arrangements promptly were
vigorous prosecution q road work in
all sections Of the country, not only
With . view to repair the damage
wrought BY the heavy traffic forced
upon our highways during tho war,
when maintenance operations were sc.
tously tnterfered with, but also to pro-
vide adequate transportation facilities
to serve the increased needs ot ogr-
culture and Industry. Recognising
also that foaa buiidinS activities
would furnish suitable employment for
many unemployed men during ths ps-
ned Of transition from war to psacs.
he congress at its last session, &C
ospHnS the Recommendations Of the de-
Dartmsnt Of Agriculture Appropriated
32os. 900, 80. IN addition to the 1885,
100000 provided By the original act.
for tho extension Of road construction
in cooperation With the states, and
! also made some important amendments
to the act. The definition Of the kind
Of roads that can be constructed was
greatly broadensd. and tbs limitation
on the federal contribution for any one
road was increased from $4,000 10 33o..
600 Q mile. These amendments have
greatly facilitates consideration OF and
action upon the road projects submit
ted by The stats hiGhway commissions.
There 10 now no special obstacle to the
construction, In the different states Of
the union, Of the roads which serve
the greatest economic needs"