The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1919-01-15
STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION
SEES MUCH WORK AHEAD
New Scheme Gives Nevada "a Much
Better Chance In Govern
ment Allotment


the people of Churchill county
should get together and formulate a
definite road building program for
the year just ahead. More especial
ly is it necessary that this be done
at once because the legislature will
begin its session next week and II
is only fair to our representatives
that they be apprised of the desires
of their constituents along these
lines, in order that they may act in
telligently with a certainty that they
have the moral support of the people
behind them.
While it may not be possible for
this county to meet the full program
of the government on a fifty-fifty
basis. even in conjunction with the
State, still our representatives should
know how far the taxpayers are
willing to go in the matter.
In this connection the following
from the Carson News gives the pres
ent status of the highway construc-
ton program:
AS to the matter of the future of
highway construction in Nevada the
outlook is most encouraging. Dur
the fall when Mr.. Cottrell attended
the meeting of the American State
Highway Association at Washington
many propositions relative to the
conditions of the western states were
discussed. Under the working order
of the present law it is necessary for
the state to meet the government on
a fifty-ffty basis, for each federal
dollar there must be state dollar
put up. In Nevada the state has
met this situation to date by putting
up 20 per cent and the county where
the work is under way the other 25
cents.
On the six hundred million dollars
TO be furnished by federal appropri-
alton Nevada is to have eight mil
lion Mr. Cottrell at the meeting
explained that he did not believe
that the people of Nevada could meet
any such sum, but suggested that
the division be made upon basis of
private owned land as against the
government owned holdings. Under
such a system the government would
have put up 80 per cent, Nevada but
IL per cent. AS there was no def
mite action taken Mr.. Cottrell pro-
posed that the western representa-
tives meet in Salt Lake in January
to discuss the western situation. This
meeting has been held and some
good results it is believed have been
brought about.
II was found that the proposition
of SO to IL would not hold at this
time, as a substitute, approved by
the western delegates, Nevada will
benefit on a population basis along
with some. of the other states. By
this the basis has been figured at 8
to L, that is for each dollar Nevada
put up the government will hand
over So.
There is now available for the
State of Nevada approximately
100000 which will be used for
projects now approved and pending.
1t is a Certainty that Nevada will be
able to take up her quota and match
the government appropriation up to
1921. Unless something verv unusu-
al transpires the belief is that this
state will be able under the new pro-
posed decisions to care for the aid
that is proposed.
Mr.. Cottrell again impressed the
fact that the State Highway Com.
mission would soon be advertising
for bids and hopes that the Nevada
contractors will be organized to such
an extent that the home contractors
will take over this work. Estimates
have been made high enough to al
low at least profits to the bids. The
opening of spring will see the ap'
,rnyad nroiaofc pnovinC &c all wal