Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-01-20
Urge FEDERAL
APPROPRIATION
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
URGES ACTION OF CITIZENS
OF THE STATE
MUST HAVE MONEY FOR ROADS
Federal Cooperation Is Necessary In
Many Western States

VIM. ]. Hall, commissioner of pub
lie works and d. P. Olson, director OF
highways, for Idaho, are anxious that
the people of Boundary county assist
in impressing upon congress the need
of further appropriations by the gov
ernment for road work. Following
is a communication received this week
by the editor from Commissioner Hall
in reference to the matter:
"The last of the federal aid approp-
ration previously made by congress
becomes available July /, 1920.
practically all of Idaho's allotment
of federal funds has already been alb
sorbed.
"It is of the utmost importance to Id
aho that liberal federal aid appropria-
tions be made by congress and the ap-
propriation bill should be passed and
approved at the earliest possible date
Many resolutions and memorials have
been presented to congress urging a
prompt and favorable action on adj
ditional appropriations.
"The department of public works of
Idaho is in receipt of advices from
Washington to the effect that the slo-
gan of all party leaders in both the
house and the senate is economy and
Z retrenchment', and that ii will require
concerted effort on the part of those
interested in the continuance and ex-
tension of road work to obtain favora-
BILE action. Undoubtedly a sincere ef-
fort to inaugurate a policy of economy
and retrenchment will meet with a
hearty and widespread approval, but
most people will agree that there is
plenty of room for the exercise of such
4 policy without cutting off appropria-
8 tions which are vital to the highway
improvement program of every state
I in the Union.
"If additional federal aid appropria-
tions are not made at this time, it will
. mean that many comprehensive con-
struction programs must be abandoned
B and that the people who have voted
for bond issues with the expectation
3 Of receiving cooperative federal funds
4 will become discouraged, and that the
4 cooperative spirit and enthusiasm for
q road construction which has grown
up in the past few years will die of
q inanition.
"The principle of federal aid in
8 highway construction has been demon
81 strated to be sound, and that it is pop
q ular and has had the effect of encour-
a aging road building, is evidenced by
q the fact that for each dollar of federal
q funds made available for cooperative
work, it is estimated that more than
a six dollers, state, county and highway
q district funds, have been raised for the
same purpose.
"If federal aid is not continued there
81 is a grave danger that the road pro-
Y grams now formulated will receive
setback from which it will require
years to recover. Nearly every COM
munity of Idaho has such a program
and has provided funds to apply on its
& construction, in whole or in part dur
ing the next three or four years. 1t
II follows, therefore, that every COM
munity In Idaho is interested in the
continuance and extension of federal
aid.
"The convention of American Assoc
iation Of State Highway Officials, held
at Louisville, KY, December Sill, of
1919, passed resolutions and memoir
ials to congress asking for the follow
ing appropriations:
Federal Post Aid: $100, 1000, 900 per
y
Federal Forest Aid $10,000,000 per
year for the next four years.
Federal Aid for Roads in Indian
Reservations and other lands held by
the United States outside of the nation
al forests: $2,500 900 for the year end
ing June 80, 1921 and thereafter $780,
s. wy per year for five years.
In each case the first appropriation
tI11, TIL
In order to demonstrate that the
sentiment of the people of the coun-
Try is overwhelmingly in favor Of a
81 prompt and liberal action, it is re-
quested that every board of county
commissioners, every board Of high
way district commissioners, every
city council, every chamber of COM
merce or commercial club, in fact ev-
cry public or semi-public body, pass
resolutions endorsing the action of the
louisville convention in asking con-
sress for federal aid appropriations;
ana tnat copies OF such resolutions be
.orwarded Immediately to Hon. Bur-
ION u. French, Hon. Addison 7. Smith,
non. W. q. Borah and Hon. ]. F. Nu-
gent, and to the clerks of the house of
representatives and the United States
senate. Letters from private citizens
would also be of value.
Inc governors of the states west of
sne Rocky mountains are appointing
ueiesation5 to confer with the Commit
eees on Appropriations at Washington,
On FEBRUARY 3, 1920. 1t is therefore,
Important that as many resolutions as
possible be forwarded to Washington
u order that they may be delivered
not later than the last week in jan
me cooperation of the citizens OF
-uano IN this matter is confidently ex-