South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-21
FEDERAL AID IN
BUILDING ROADS
PROVES SUCCESS
In Three Years $500 Miles
of Road Built by Dollar For
Dollar Plan.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

~ AEf1lNtT AD.Nf H. - sept. AV.--
The federal aSd road act is proving
a gigantic success in fostering the
building OF improved highways IN
every commonwealth or the union.
Tho distance across the United
states Is approximately $500 miles.
IN three years. with the federal
government putting up practically
dollar for dollar with the states,
15.e69 miles OF perfect roadway
have been constructed or are pro-
vided for in projects which
have been approved and which will
he carried out prior 10 1921. This
means that the construction work
under the now federal aid plan al
ready has assumed such proportions
as TO build enough roadway 10 span
the nation between oceans four
times. with something left over for
a detour into Canada.
Would Encompass Country.
These $500 miles Of roads would
nearly encompass the boundary lines
of the United States. running down
the Atlantic coast from where New
Brunswick joins Maine. around the
Florida peninsula, along the Gulf
OF Mexico 20 the Rio Grande river.
along the Mexican border to the
Pacific, up the coast of California,
Oregon and Washington TO the
Cane Han border and thence east
ward 20 the top OF Maine and down
20 the Atlantic once more.
Considering the magnitude OF the
crop production OF the United
states OF the present day. It is re
garded as indeed fortunate that
there are so many miles OF good
roads for the hauling 10 market. In
fact. there is little doubt that the
increased mileage OF disable high
ways has proved a vital factor in
increasing crop production and en-
HANGING the nations wealth, az
statistics testify.
Judgment Good.
The pioneer advocates OF federal
aid as a means OF solving the high
way problem now feel that their
Judgment has been indicated in
. the fullest degree. The various
commemorative simply houndered
when good roads were considered.
Some were progressive. the major
ity Indifferent. It was evident that
federal aid and supervision were
necessary to convince the people
The first chapter in the successful
fstory OF good roads construction
was written in 1912 when congress
voted an appropriation OF $500. 900
for experimental purposes. This
was expended In worthwhile dem
onstrations. which were so success
ful that in 1915 little effort was re
quired to get bill through con-
rress for an appropriation OF $751;
coo. 900. TO be expended in five
years. together with 100000 a
year for roads In national parks and
forest reserves. This sum was aug
mented this year, however. by a
supplemental appropTia ton of
5000. 900. 900 for the states and s3,-
100000 annually for the national
parks and forests. carrying the
work 20 1921. This was a grand to-
tai of S275.0OO.OOO for the general
work and S19.00O.OoO for the for
es.s But this appropriation has
not been entirely expended. Up TO
Aug. 81. 1919. the 1909 miles Of
road planned. under way actually
constructed. had cost hut STA
o1E.1Se. OF which the federal gov
eminent had contributed S7O,716.-
7fs Although the plan was 10
have the federal government con
tribute dollar for dollar with the
states. this is not always done. as
t1e United States cannot eXpend
{ more than $4,000 a mile.