El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-03-06
The Government

France, may become available fos
use in the various states, If the sec
rotary of wal feels disposed to giv''
it to the states, distributing it on
the usual basis of federal aid, ac'
cording to area, population and mile
age.
DR.. s. M. Johnson, OF Ruidoso, Jill
coin county, booster OF half a dozen
great highways who returned yester-
day from Washington, ID C., called
attention to this opportunity say
ing: 1T would be a great thing for
New Mexico and every other state
to get a portion Of this equipment
for not a one cent would have to be
raised by taxation. All we must dc
is to provide money for roads in or
der to use it. 1t is estimated there
are $4,000 or motor trucks. one
camp, that Of Halomird, near Balli-
more, having 1880. These trucks
are worth from $4,000 to $4,000 each.
Besides the trucks there are nun
dreds OF millions of dollars worth of
equipment and supplies which CON
gress has decided to distribute in va
rious states
DR.. johnson has just had several
conferences with Senator Bankheas 4,
chairman of the senate committee en-
postoffices and post roads, and who
wrote a large part of the Post Of
flee Appropriation bill, bearing a
good roads rider. Congress has ap-
propriated $4,000, 600 for forestry
roads and of this sum New Mexico
is to receive 5000, 600. DR.. johnson
l.. t~~tn x.nrrr - ark. AT0nr ATrn4nA Ifu-I
up with the federal government so
that this state will receive approx
imately $4,333,000 for roads.
Dr.. Johnson said that it is of the
utmost Importance for the people OF
New Mexico and their officials to I'M
derstand the Importance of the post
office road appropriations of $780,
000, 900, one quarter of this sum to
be available Immediately, as is seen
in sections 8 and 6 Of the aprro-
priation bill.
The Important Section.
These sections, which DR.. johnson
said should be studied by every good
roads enthusiast are as follows:
Sec. 5. That the Act entitled
IAN act to provide that the United
States shall aid the States in tile
construction of rural post roads, ana
for other purposes" approved July
II, 1916, is hereby amended to pro
vide that the term rural post roads
as used in section 2 of said Act, sh&l
be construed to mean any puh;ic
road a major portion Of which is now
used, or can be used, or forms a con
Meeting link not to exceed ten miles
- f-..rtI - o4,rr ,ann1 an rooHc 4.n1F
or hereafter used for the Transports
tion of the United States mails, ey-
Guiding every street and road in a
place having a population, as shown
by the latest available Federal CEN
sus, of two thousand five hundred or
more except that portion of any
such street or road along which the
houses average more than two hun-l
bred feet apart: Provided, That sec
ton G of said Act be further amend
ed so that the limitation of payments
not to exceed $4,000 per mile, ex-
elusive Of the cost Of bridges Of
more than twenty feet clear span,
which the Secretary Of Agriculture
may make, be, and the same is, ill
creased to $4,000 per mile.
Sec. 6. That for the purpose OF
carrying out the provisions Of said
Act, as herein amended, there is
hereby appropriated, out Of any mon
en- in the Treasury not otherwise ap-I
propriated, the following additional
sums: The sum of $50,000.000 fer
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919,
and available Immediately; the sum
of $75,000,000 for the fiscal year enc
ing June 80, 1920; and the sum Of
$500 600 for the fiscal year endingl
June 80, 1921; said additional SUMS
to be expended in accordance WITH
the provisions of said Act: Provided
That where the constitution of any
State prohibits the same from en-
gaging upon internal improvements
or from contracting public debts for
extraordinary purposes in an amount
sufficient to meet the monetary rel
qufremeHts of the Act of July n,
1916, or any Act amendatory thereof,
or restricts annual tax levies for the
purpose of constructing and improv-
ing roads and bridges, and where al
constitutional alteration or amend-l
ment to overcome either or all o.
such prohibitions must be substituted
to a referendum at a general elecE-
ion, the sum to which such State is
entitled under the method Of appor-
tionment provided in the Act of July
II. 1916, or any Act amendatory
thereof, shall be withdrawn by tie
Secretary Of the Treasury from the
principal fund appropriated by the
Act of July II, 1916, or any Act
amendatory thereof, upon receipt Of
the certification Of the governor Of
such State to the existence of either
or all of said prohibitions, and sucn
sum shall be carried by the Secrt-
tary of the Treasury as a separate
fund for future disbursement as here.
matter provided: Provided further,
That when, by referendum, the cJn-
stitutional alterations or amendments
necessary to the enjoyment of the
sum so withdrawn have been ap-
proved and ratified by any State, the
Secretary OF the Treasury, upon re-
ceipt Of certification from the COVER
nor Of such State to such effect, shall
Immediately make available to such
State, for the purposes set forth IN
the Act Of July II, 1916, or any Act
a~mendatory thereof, the sum with
drawn as 11ereiubefore provided. x