The copper era and Morenci leader., 1919-03-21
GOVERNMENT AID FOR PUBLIC ROADS

WASHINGTON, D. C.-With full cooperation according to the terms of the Federal Aid Act, the United States will have a total of at least S574 100000 for cooperative road building during the next three years The federal part of this fund is as snred by an extra appropriation of s209, 100000 in the postoffice appro- priation bill just passed by congress and signed by the president.
 Officials of the Bureau Of Public roads, U. S. Department of Agricul- ture, which administers the prcvis- icns Of the Federal Aid Road Act and co-operates with the state gov eriesnents in the expenditure of the money, point out that this amount If funds is tie largest eXer :ipnropriat- ed for similar purposes and for a similar period by any government in the history of the world and that it broadens the definition of a rural post road, unocr which cisss a high way had to qualify in order to receive the benefits of the Federal aid act. the Federal and state governments to carry out a road-building program of a magnitude never equaled.
 Iii connection with the great Fed era. aid program, it is also noted that expenditures for highway work in the United States this year are likely to amount to a half billion dol lars or more. On reports received from state highway departments, the Pureau of Public. Roads estimates the 1919 expenditures for roads and bridges at $3S5, ,OOO,000 or S110,0Hl 001 more than the average eXpendi- lures for 1916 and 1917.
 Road Definition Broadened.
 Under the old act it was required that mail should actually be carried on the road or that there should be reasonable prospect that mai would be carried on it within a short tune after it's improvement. The new act says, the term rural post roads shall he constr ued to mean any public road. a major portion of which is now used or can be used, or forms in connecting link not to exceed I0 miles in length of any road or roads now or hereafter used for the trans portation of the U. S. mails, eX
 cluding every street and road in a place having population as shown by the latest available Federal Ct IT, sus of 25OO or more, except that portion of any such street CT road along which the houses average mora than 200 feet apart"
 Government Limit Raised. The new act also raises the gov ernment limit of contribution from
 not to exceed s2O.00O a mile, taking account of higher present costs of ia bor and materials.
 The law also authorizes the secre- ! tary of war. to transfer to the secre I tary of agriculture material, equip ment and supplies suitable for high
 way i1n nprovement and rot needed by the War department.
 Of the s2O9 OOOOOO added to the i funds available under the Federal Aid Road Act, the new law makes s9.fG0 900 available for expenditure ! by tEe secretary of agriculture for
 roads and trails within or partly
 witf:in the national forests. It also
 prov .Ges other measures which are expected to give great impetus to the
 development of the road systems ir the rational forests.
 The original Federal Road Aid Act
 which became a law ir July, 1916.
 appropriated s75,O0OO00 to aid in the
 COTS. .ruction of post roads d:iring 2 ! five year period ending June go 1921
 and Si00OOO,OO0 to aid iii forest roads ] building during a ten-year period,
 ending June 26, 1926. Not over s. ! coo, GOO of the original $S5 000. .GGo had ! been expended prior to 1919, so that sS2 20o0,L coo plus $2O9, ,O0O OOO, or 9 to-
 tai of $291 O0O,OOO of Federal funds
 will be available. of which SzS. .,000.- 1 900 will be available during the next