Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-04-13
Arrangements Made to Dis
burse $600,OO0,00o in the
Interest of Better National
Highways.
SEEK ENGINEERS IN ARMY
Release Asked in Order That
Their Services May Be Avail
able to Help Garry Out Nam
moth Construction Program.

Washington, April 12-Many impor-
tant steps have been taken to expedite
road construction under the enlarged
program recently authorized by con-
gress, 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, according to a statement
issued this week by David f. Houston,
secretary of agriculture.
a conference was held by the Secre-
tary on March with the state highway
commissioners of the eastern and mid
die western states, and all phases of
the problem, and especially the inter
probation of the liberal amendments of
the federal aid road act, We're consid
cred. The regulations issued under the
act have been carefully revised in the
light Of past experience and of the sug
gestionS offered by the state highway
departments. the standards for plans,
specifications, and estimates have been
modified to meet special conditions eX-
listing in some of the states, and other
changes in practices and procedure
have been and are being made--all with
the definite object of speeding up the
work.
IOWA MAN NAMED.
The appointment of Thomas II. Mac
Donald, chief engineer of the Iowa
state highway commission, as engineer
In immediate charge of the work of the
bureau of public roads under the feder-
nj aid road act has just been an
nounced and it is planned that in the
near future Mr.. Macdonald will for
mally assume the position of director of
the bureau of public roads.
1t developed at the conference that
the present freight rates are one of
the principal obstacles to the active
resumption and extension of highway
activities. The situation has been laid
before the railroad administration by
representatives of the department of
agriculture and of the state highway
officials, and is now under active con-
sideration.
Secretary Houston also has taken up
with the secretary of war the Ques
ton of releasing from the army high
way engineers in this country and
abroad, in order that their services
may be utilized during the coming
road construction season.
STATEMENT BY HOUSTON
Secretary Houston says in his state
ment:
During the war it was necessary
to curtail road construction operations
because of the difficulties of securing
transportation, materials. and the
requisite services. Now that the sit
uation has changed. the work will be
nj vic,
ecutod, Notwithstanding the fact that
conditions are still abnormal in some
respects. especially with reference to
the price of materials and supplies. 1t
is not believed that the people Of the
nation can wait for prices to rCcPdc be-
fore beginning industrial operations.
Such hesitation will add to the diff
cutes instead of tightening them.
The congress at its last session, ac-
cepting the recommendation of the de-
partment of agriculture. not only made
available from the federal treasury
large additional sums for road con-
struction in cooperation with the
states, but also made some important
amendments to the federal aid road
act. These amendments will have the
effect of greatly lessening the diff
culties of selecting and constructing
needed roads.
FUNDS AVAILABLE.
1.-THE amount of federal funds avail
able for road building on March l was
over s72,900.000, which under the law
must be matched by at least an equal
amount from the states, making a
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