The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-08-07
NATIONAL HIGHWAY
CAMPAGNsIARTED
SUMMARY or WHAT THE ENTIRE
NATION - PLANNING
AHEAD OF Us
NEW ERA MEANS MUCH FOR THE FARMER
All Over the Country Interest 10 Being
Shown In Problem Of Making
Highways Valuable Asset.

SOoS@
The United States Is In the midst
of the greatest highway building cam
paign in the history OF the world. The
aggregate amount to be expended this
year on the roads and lanes Of the
country would build and duplicate an
other Panama. Canal. According to
the figures collected by the combined
forces of the Federal government,
states and counties will spend $685.
DOC, 900 in new construction and main
tenance OF the nations network Of
highways. This is the first complete
survey Of 1919 good roads expendi-
lures. The amounts to be spent in
each state in the Union follows:
Alabama. $1,000, 900; Arizona, s $780,
900; Arksnsas, $4,297, 1898; California,
$50. 000, 900; Colorado. s4.742.0 900; Con-
necticut, $4,000. 900; Delaware, So,
b2S, 900; Florida, $4,000. 900; Georgia,
$7,s11.000; Idaho. $2.100. 900; Illinois,
$6,013,304; Indiana, $12. 600. 900; Iowa,
$50. 498. 534; Kansas, $4,000, 900; Ken
lucky, $3.500,000; Louisiana, $1,000
900; Maine, $3.50, 900; Maryland. &c.
$50. 900: Massachusetts,, $4,000, 600;
Michigan, Sic. 000. 900; Minnesota. ST..
1886; Mississippi. $1,000. 900; Mis-
souri,, $5.413.079; Montana, s 100000;
Nebraska, $2,005.o 900: Nevada. 81
377,4sS; New Hampshire. 1850, 900;
New Jersey. $500. 900; New Mexico.
New York, 100000:
North Caroline. $1,000 COO: North Da-
kota, $1,082.00 200 Ohio. $13. 1871, 500;
Oklahoma, $4,000 o Oregon. So,
060. 600; Pennsyivania, sS.7s0.000;
Rhode Island. $1.47o.O00; South Caro-
lima, $1,000. 90; South Dakota, $6,7S7.
ZIG; Tennessee. $S.s60.ss6: Texas,
$780, S0. 600: Utah. s10,O92, 7s4; ver-
mont, S1.SS7.650: Virginia, $3,400, 900;
Washington. $500. 900; West yir-
ginia, $4,000, 900; Wisconsin, $4,000,
900; Wyoming, $500, 900; total, $780,
394,536.
OftciaIs estimate that the expendi.
lures for highway improvement is ap-
proximaately $500 per capita; or, to
emphasize this, each man, woman and
child in the United States would con-
tribute this much for the building and
lettering Of roads we're taxation on
such a basis. Were the expense ap-
portioned out on an average basis
each state would pay $7,O83, 1893.
The era of good roads talk has at
last been succeeded by the era of
good roads construction. Public SEN
timent. is solidly behind extensive
highway building programs now, says
one of the Goodrich highway cores
pondents, but the enthusiasm must
not wane. The millions being spent
will be spent In vain unless states
undertake to repair roads as quickly
as they build.
While the amount available for ex-
penditure this year seems staggering
1t will not be enough to make up for
deferred war construction, for nor
mally the amount spent on roads in
the United States is well above S.
SOC. 900 and the war restriction brakes
applied brought road building almost
to a stop in many localities.
Three great factors have been
largely responsible for, this years
amazing highway expenditures. First,
the incentive for states to match Fed
erai aid appropriations; second, the
passage of enormous bond issues for
good roads In many states; and third,
the attention on the urgent need of
good roads by the war.
Reports from state highway CON-
missioners Indicate some interesting
individual features.
Construction in Virginia during the
next six years Of $3.50 miles of high
way at a cost of more than $4,000, 900
has been approved.
In the New England states, Con-
necticut, Massachusetts,, Rhode Island,
Vermont and New Hampshire have
been interesting in closing up short
on their main highways, which
are otherwise improved for the entire
distance. The same condition has
been true in New York where numer-
Gus projects are being linked with
an extensive network of roads which
are already hard surfaced.
One of the features of this years
work will be the completion of the
Dixie Highway, which will be done
by the states cooperating with each
other and with the government. For
instance, in Illinois, the highway Will
be improved in many spots, one Oh
which is over a distance OF 54.5 miles
at a cost Of 1904. 100 and the construc-
ton will be Of concrete and bitumi-
nous macadem. At the same time
Georgia will be working on the road
from Atlanta through to Macon. .
distance Of n miles and ! continue
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