Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1919-03-21
MILLIONS NOW AVAILABLE
FOR ROAD BUILDING


Ogden, Utah, March 1.-THE de-
velopment of the national forest road
systems is given great impetus by
the terms OF the Post Office Appropri-
atoms Act which the president re-
Gently signed. Besides increasing by
100000 the total fund available
under the federal aid roads Act. the
new law makes available for expen-
diture by the Secretary of Agricul-
ture $4,000, 900 for roads and trails
within or partly within the forests.
The law also authorizes the Seere-
tary of War to transfer to the Secre-
tary of Agriculture material, equip
ment, and supplies suitable for high
way improvement and not needed by
the War department. While most of
this will be distributed among the
highway commissions of the states
for use on federal aid road projects,
not to exceed 10 per cent may be re-
served by the Secretary of Agricul-
ture for use In building national for
est roads or other roads constructed
under his direct supervision.
The 100000 fund may be used
for maintenance as we'll as survey
and construction. The new legisla-
tion, like the federal aid roads act,
makes the building of roads and
trails necessary for the use and de-
velopmefit of national forest resourc-
es or desirable for the proper admin
istration, protection and Improvement
of any forest where cooperative local
contributions can be obtained; but in
addition to this 1t contains q new fea-
ture Of much Importance.
The new feature permits the sec
rotary OF agriculture without the CO.
operation of local officials to build
and maintain amy road or trail with
in, a national forest which he finds
necessary for the proper administra-
ton, protection, and Improvement of
such forest, or which in his opinion
is Of national Importance. In the
view of forestry officials this law lie
the most Important step ever taken
for rapid development OF a national
forest roads system, and will be of i'm
estimable benefit to the local public.
The measure gives us much broa-
der scope for fully developed pro-
gram than we have had before" says
Henry s. Graves, chief of the forest
service, in commenting on the new
law. Under the Federal aid roads
act we had available, for roads within
or partly within the forests one mill
lion dollars a year, available until ex-
pended. Owing to the war, which
practically halted. the work, we had
an accumulated balance of $1,000
600 unexpended and another 81 ,000,-
600 which will become available July
1.
"of the new appropriation So, 0O0,-
600 is Immediately available, and
$2,O0O,000 will become available Ju-
" l. There will also be available
100000 or more from the ten per
cent Of national forest receipts. AL
together. therefore, we have in sight
for the coming year about $40, 00O,-
900, IL we can use it adyantageOnsly.
Whatever we can't use advantage
onBly so soon will be added to the
$4,000, 900 OF new money that be-
comes available the following year.
We already have our plans for
approved road projects sufficiently
shaped mp 30 that a prompt start win
be possible az soon as the weather
permits. In some cases, however,
these plans must necessarily be sus-
pended on account of pending propo-
sails for the creation of national parks
Affecting national forest lands. It |
would be obviously improper 10 ex-
pend the fnnda intended and voted |