The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-18
VERMONT COMPLETED
ONE SMALL PROJECT
WITH FEDERAL AID
Less Than As Miles of Road Are Reported
Completed by States Which Awaited
of Federal Aid-vast Sum Is
Ready for the Purpose.

Less than 45 miles of roads are re-
ported completed by states availing Of
federal aid Appropriations made by
Congress to pay the federal government 5
proportion of the cost of state road build
ing projects now total S4S,500,000. This
soon will be increased materially. An
addition of $200,000,000 probably win be
available during the next three years.
With these millions available and with
the approval of the federal government
on 700 road building projects, involving
,S69.6l miles of roads, less than IS miles
--44.969 to be exact--of roads have been
constructed under the federal aid plan.
The information and education service
of the u S. department of labor, coop
Grating with such national organizations
as the American Automobile association,
the Automobile Chamber of Commerce,
and the National Highway Industries as
ISOLATION, is calling to the attention Of
state officials the desirability of at once
getting under way such state road con
struetion as has been approved by the
federal government and for which the
latter has set aside funds.
In addition to obvious benefits derived
from improved highways, the department
Of labor urges a new argument, especially
important at this time when labor con
ditions are arousing anxiety and business
is endeavoring to find an unembarrassed
way back to peace conditions. For the
states at once to go in for road building
is, according to the department of labor,
a direct way to stimulate business and
absorb labor To all that has been said
heretofore on the value of good roads,
now may be added road buildings poten-
tialities as an efiicacious tonic for the
industrial organization of the country.
The department of labor does not deny
that road materials and labor costs are
high, Rather, the information and edu-
cation service asserts, indications are
that prices will remain high for some
time to come and in view of the fore
casts for market conditions, it is impru-
dent to longer hold up state construction
anticipating lower construction costs
Secretary of Labor Wilson, both in a re-
cent address in New York City and in an
article in Golfers Weekly, expressed the
conviction that an era of unprecedented
activities is ahead of American industry.
He asserted his confidence in the ability
of American industry to absorb, event
ually, the labor released from the army
and from war industries. He did not
hesitate, however, to emphasize the fact
that during the months of transition
from war to peace conditions, the labor
situation is fraught with disquieting pos
sibilities if it is altogether neglected
Road building vii provide buffer emf
ployment for thousands of men until
they can be absorbed by industries as the
latter gradually reach their peace stride
production. Road building Immediately
pays dividends in increased land values
Roads are an asset to every state and to
their permanent value as public improve
ments is now added their temporary val.
Tie, of incalculable Importance, of slim
ulating business and protecting states
against the possibilities of a period of
general unemployment.
If the various states would get under
way such road building projects as have
been approved by the federal govern
ment, $50, III ,S4672 would be spent for
better roads and, if the construction
costs are higher than Gin prewa times,
the actual financial outlay for the states
need not be higher, since approximately
half of the bill would be paid by the fed.
eral government.
There have been set aside to cover the
federal governments portion of the costs
on the 100 road projects approved in va
rious states, more than $2l 100000 This
now is available for states which will 90
to work on their road construction on
plans approved by the federal govern
ment
Although federal aid for state roads
has been available since 1917, but eight
states report road projects, involving fed
eral aid, completed. Arkansas has com
peted one project involving $40 miles.
California has completed two projects of
G.7S5 miles, Louisiana has completed one
project of four miles, Massachusetts has
completed two projects of 1892 miles;
North Carolina, one project of sol miles
Vermont, one project of 1903 miles;
Washington, one project of 3.5 miles; and
West Virginia, one project of 2,53 miles.
In all, 10 projects have been completed
of total mileage of less than 45 miles
In so far as getting under way road
building projects involving federal aid
goes, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware.
Maine, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode