The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1919-02-28

With total federal appropriation
lot approximately S3,1O0,OOO availabl
Tor road improvements in Utah up g.
December 81, 1920. and with the 49,.
100000 highway measure passed by
the house Of representatives this last
week, the outlook for rural and in
lerurban transportation betterment IN
the state Is most optimistic, according
10 highway officials. Though the
large sum is made available by the
FEDERAL government 80 the legislation
bringing the total up to the figure
rlven having passed the house and
without doubt to pass the senate
amendments will be necessary before
II eau be used in the most efficient
manner IN Utah, according to Ira Il.
browning of the state highway com-
mission.
These amendments are being sought
through the powerful American As.
ISOLATION of State Highway Officials.
with every prospect bright for their
enactment, Browning declares. One of
the requirements Of the federal gov.
eminent which detiacts from the use
iulness Of the good roads money to be-
used 10y the states, h. that the appru-
priaiion must be expended upon roads
over which mail IN transported. The
American highway officials are try.
ing To- have the laws ~ changed that
the funds will be- available for roads
over which the "mails may be- trans
ported. - Another troublesome clnuss
governing the DISPOSITION of the fed.
crnl fund IL the limit of ten thousand
dollars cost mile of the road upon
which the money Is to be expended
II the highway constructed costs
more than this sum. the federal go,.
eminent will not even cooperate with
the state IN building H.
"Thc need Just now i Tor pcrmp.
ncnt roads" SAYS Browning. "The
program of the state highway com
mission n h. construct some ninety
eight miles of road nt nm Approximate
cost oi s2.OOO.00O or about $4,000 =
|milc. The state now eXpcnds nbou'
s500.0UO u year Tor maintenance of
roads and bridges. This sum Is large
/ " wasted aud wouli be- largely clint
mated II the permanent. hnrdsuriaced
roads had been constructed IN the
place ot the cheaper, more easily
damaged ihoroughiarrs. An amend
pcnt to the legislation limiting the
cost 10 ten Thousand dollars q mile N
|nuolhcr of the objects of the highway
|otficiais' association. Dtuh's avail
nhle money for ruad improvements
aud construction IN the next two
wears. approximately. will be- from
Estate funds. $4,000 600; remaining IN
bond fund. from sl2n.00O to Sl30O0n;
Nv net of congress Jrrr 30. 1910.
1854 OO0 Approximately federal
fund for forest roads. S200OOO. aud
bv the Bankhead hill. which has pass
81 the senate aud conceded Ia pass
the house. the total will be increased
a. approximately S3iO0,000 from the
federal government. The Bankhenl
hill adds about Sgan.O00 Ia the amount
uyailahlc during 1919
Besides the two clauses which the
/ highway officials association h seek
ing 10 amend. the other provisions of
the federal laws 10 make the funds
available require that the state must
furnish dollar for dollar. The high
way appropriation bill passed last
y eek by Utah is hardly enough 10 con-
tribute ON a dollar for dollar basis 10
the federal fund and 10 carry out the
program Of the state highway depart
nent, Browning states, The seventy
eight miles OF road in the center of the
state which the Utah commission con
struction program provides for in
Glade a continuation Of the pavement
from Richmond in Cache county 10
rnyson. Utah county. with the eXeen.
ton 0f Mellsyille Canyon in Boz
Elder and Cache counties, the finish
inr Of the pavement from Salt Lake
| City 10 Garfield, and from Helper 10
Price, ~ Carbon county. A. no mail
is transported over these stretches
of rad, the federal appropriation will
not be available for this work, unless
the amendments sought are enacted.
This construction, II Is pointed out.
depends largely unOn the counties m
which the roads lie being able 10 co
operate with the state The bond
fund must provide for the less wealthy
counties. But, il is said, some Of
these counties would be- unable 10 pay
half the cost from a tax levy of three
mills. The twelve miles in Davis
county would cost approximately
Sl20O0O, and the twonty-eighi miles
in Utah county, about S56O,00O, The
maximum TAX of three mills. il is
shown by the property valuation Of
these counties. would not raise half
the cost.