The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-02

Road building authorities ARE pre-
dieting that 1919. 1890 and 1894 VIII
history in the matter in the country 5
| history In the matter Of road con-
struction. In view OF the unprecedent-
ed appropriations OF funds for federal
aid for road projects and the aetivi-
ties of the states In extending their
roaabuildlng programs the prediction
appears to he fully justified
The division of public works and
construction developments Of the
United States department OF labor Is
authority for the statement that there
has been "A revision and enlargerae nj
Of road-baiiding plans in almost every
state In the union since the signing OF
the armistice. This is due not only
TO the pressing need for road con-
structfon. which has been suspended
. during the war. except H}Fege COM
struction was essential to military ac-
tivities. but also to the obvious de-
STABILITY and prudence OF getting pub
lie works under way so there may be
such a demand for labor as VIII alb
sorh the labor surplus,
Ultimately there Will be labor
shortage In the United States. Az
; present there is surplus. and this is
apt to grow to embarrassing proper
lions during the next few months OF
rehabilitation II no conscious EFFORT Is
/ made to Immediately revive building
and construction activities to provide
buffer employment until our Industrial
reimbursement has been IN y | e G d.
Quite az important Is the effect Of an
| immediate acceferation of construction
work on general business conditions.
, Federal. state and uunicinel canstrue-
ton projects, assisted by private and
corporation building activities, will he
potent stimuli for general business and
| will prevent the stagnation which
would spell commercial disaster.
| Federal aid for road construction 70.
1919. 1e.n and 1921 has been provided
! on more liberal scale than ever be-
1 fore n millions OF federal funds are
not absorbed by the states In state
. road projects. 1t viii be no feult Of tire
federal government. Millions are avail
able. How completely the possihiii-
| ties OF the present opportunity are ar-
nroxfmated depends on the state ad-
INVESTIGATIONS,
Federal funds to the amount OF
! $3ss.7s0 900 will have heen made avail
able for state road projects by the end
| OF the fiscal year of 1921. Under iesis-
iation enacted prior to the last con-
| Kress there are avnftable FOR 1877. 1918
and ts1a--and now arnortsoneH among
! the states--S2a.l 100000 To this, the
! last congress added sAs.5aa.N6a for the
| fiscal year 1919, making The total of
/ federal aid Ter read construction g
isfKe enf' of tns nscaf yaar Ysfa. 81 r.
! 100000. In fseo there will be s9ssS0.-
/ 600 available tor this work. and in
1921 an additional s9T.cof.nsu.
The last congress amended the
Federal-ad law in such fsshion as 70
give the states more latitude in build
Ing. These changes became Law
through the passage of the most office
appropriation bill, sections 6 ard g. OF
which read as follows:
Section S. That the act entitled
AN act to provide that the United
States shall aid the states In The con-
struction Of rural post roads. and for
other. purposes approved July /, 1915.
Is hereby amended 10 provide that the
term rural past roads, as used In
section 2 of said act, shall bic construed
to mean any public road major por-
ton OF which is now used, or can he
used, or forms connecting link not TO
exceed ten miles In length Of any road
or roads now or hereafter used for the
ttranspor cation OF the United States
malls. excluding every street and road
In place having a. population as
shown BY the latest available Federal
census or $500 or more, except that
portion OF any such street or road
along which the houses average more
than 900 Feet apart: Provided That
sooeion ; of aAiA ~ ~ furxhef amend
I1 IN I'M llna1tatien N paSpenta