Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-04
HOUSTON ANNOUNCES
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM
TO BOOST GOOD ROADS
CONTINUED From Page -


amended; that is, any public road a
major portion of which is now used,
or can be used, or forms a connect
ing link not to exceed ten miles In
length of any road or roads now or
hereafter used for the transportation
of the United States mails Under
the original wording of the law
federal funds could be expended only
upon roads upon which the United
States mails now are or may here
after be transported This required
a definite determination in each case
of the actual post route status of
the road, which necessarily involved
delays in many instances. The def
now been changed in such a way
that very few important roads will
be debarred from receiving federal
aid, if all the requirements of the
act are complied with. This feature
Of the original law was the most
troublesome to the highway depart
ments of the various states. It's
modification will go far toward ia
cilitating the prosecution of the
convince the state authorities of the
purpose of congress and the inten-
ton of the department of agricul-
ture to assist in the resumption and
extension of road building in every
practicable way.
IL III illus DS seen IlldL & DGOaQ
and comprehensive road building pro-
gram has been inaugurated. This
program is being vigorously pushed,
and the indications are that a larger
volume of highway construction will
be accomplished this season than in
any previous year in the history of
the nation. Furthermore, the work
is being done in such way as to
utilize to the best advantage the road
building experience and facilities of
the whole country.
State Department Supervision Best
The purpose Of the federal aid
road law is to encourage the con-
struction of roads of a substantial
nature by the states and to provide
adequate safeguards for securing
systematic and economical action.
Long experience has shown that the
best results will be secured if the
work is performed under the super
vision of the state highway depart
ments, the method of the control de-
pending upon local conditions. The
greater the administrative and tech
nical ability of these departments,
the greater will be their usefulness
to the taxpayers Of the state. Under
the federal law, the state highway
departments have been strengthened
and developed in way that coul0
not be equalled under any other type
of national road legislation that has
Deen suggested. Inc progress lndI
has been made in this direction is
very gratifying and helpful; and the
existence of an effective central high
way agency in nearly every state of
the union, actively cooperating with
and supported by the department of
agriculture, makes it possible to
speed UP road building more rapidly
than any other branch of public
works. By devoting all it's energy
to helping each state inaugurate the
work as quickly and as extensively
as possible, the department of agri-
culture multiplies it's resources forty
eight times, and is co-operator in
stead of competitor in placing men
and materials on the highways
where they are most needed. 1t is
the plan of the department to main
tain the closest possible touch with
the state highway departments and
it is contemplated that the American
Association of Highway Officials will,
in the near future, be requested to
designate some of it's members to
serve on an advisory committee to
cooperate with the department in
the administration and execution OF
the provisions of the federal aid road
act"