The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-07-08
ROAD BUILDING SUSPENDED
TO WAIT FOR POST ROAD AID

Dirt work on the roads of Moscow
highway district has been temporarily
| suspended, but this should cause nc
uneasiness or fear that the work is
to be abandoned. To the contrary il
means that more and better work is
to be done and that more money than
was voted by the taxpayers will be
available for road construction. But
the work of moving dirt has been
suspended in order that the prelimin-
ary work, the work of surveying, To-
eating the lines, forming accurate
estimates of the cost of construction
and making detailed maps and re-
ports of how the work is to be done
and how much it will cost, can be
done and furnished to the federal
department of public roads may as
sist in building the roads here.
A new ruling made on March 8,
last, provides for federal aid for
roads used for carrying the mail.
These are termed "post roads and
this term applies to all roads over
which mail is transported, including
rural free delivery routes. The fed
eral roads department provides one
half of the cost of constructing or
improving these roads. The state and
county (if it is state road) or the
county or district, if it is a district
or county road, furnishing the other
half. In other words it is a fair $50
80" deal between the postal depart
ment and the citizens of the district
or state.
But, in order to secure this money
the roads must be built according to
regulations of the post roads depart
ment and with the sanction of the
federal public roads officer. To Sc
cure this transaction and support the
officer representing the government
must have all detailed information
about the road, it's location, it's cost,
its grades, etc., etc. This informa-
tion must be in his hands before the
work of building the road is ap-
proved and he approves the claim for
assistance from the federal govern
ment.
R. L. Ewing, an engineer of the
state highway department, who is
working with both the state and
federal roads building departments, is
here to secure this data and to assist
in getting uniform system of roads
for northern Idaho. His head
quarters will be at Lewiston, but he
will spend some time in Latah county
Mr.. Ewing, who is an engineer of
much experience in this important
line of work, will consult and advise
with the commissioners of each dis
trict- He will help them to secure
and prepare the data required in the
proper manner to secure the most
prompt action. Every detail of the
work of building road must be
worked out and made plain in the
report, maps and data submitted to
the federal department. This infor-
nation is now being secured by pre-
liminary surveys and other prelimin-
ary work being done by Engineer
Monahan and his assistants in this
district. 1t will be sent to Boise
where Col. D. P. Olson, head of the
state highway department, forwards
it to DR.. L. l Hughes, at Portland,
who represents the federal govern
nent in this work in the west This |
saves the time of sending to Wash |
ngton. If the report shows merit |
DR.. Hughes will send man here to
inspect the work and report on it
md he will either recommend the re-
.eption or rejection of the applica
ion, or suggest changes in the plans
f they do not meet the government
If he approves the |
,lan and the application is accepted
he federal government will pay half
# the expense of building the road.
This means that the people of the dis
rict will get as much money from
he government as the district, or
he district and state (if it is state
lighway) put into it. 1t is well worth
he time and trouble of securing.
he amount that may be secured for
4atah county in this way will run
veil into the hundreds of thousands
f dollars.
Mr.. Ewing has kindly explained the I
natter in detail as we'll as the meth
ds of obtaining this federal aid
Where state highway, such as that ]
eing built from Boise to Boundary :
ounty, is used in whole or in part
or carrying mail, that portion used
or carrying the mail is built by the
ederal government, which pays half, |