The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-02-24
HIGHWAY MEASURE
BEFORE BOARD
Good Roads Committee Recommends
Endorsement of the Town
send Bill

The Townsend bill providing for a
national highway system will come up
| for consideration at the regular
meeting of the Marion County Board
of Trade, Thursday night, February
| 26, at 8 o'clock. This measure has
the endorsement of the good roads
committee of the Board of Trade, and
the committee will recommend that
the trade body as a whole endorse the
| measure, and select representatives
on the Federal Highway Council.
The Townsend bill provides in brief
for the following. A national highway
system to comprise not less than two
per cent, nor more than five per cent
OF the total highway mileage actually
used as such in any state, and not
less than two per cent, nor more than
four per cent, of the total highway
mileage actually used as such in all
of the states and affording convenient
ingress to and egress from each state
at not less than three points connect
ed with highways forming part of the
national system in adjoining states.
1t provides that where any highway
OF any route selected to form a part
of the national system has been con-
structed by the state or subdivision
thereof, it will be lawful for the ma
ticnal highway commission to con-
struct an equivalent mileage of high
ways not on the national highway
system, but connected Herewith, such
highways, after their completion,
however, not to be maintained by the
United States, nor subject to the con-
troll of the national highway COM
mission.
The federal highway commission is
to consist of three members to be ap-
pointed by the president, with the
advise and consent of the Senate; the
members to be chosen from different
geological sections; and not more than
two members to be of the same politi-
cal party. and to be appointed for
terms of two, four and six years re-
spectively. Each member of the COM
mission will receive salary of $10,-i
600 a year, and shall select one of it's
members as chairman and they shall
devote all of their time to the busi-
TESS Oh LIe commission.
The commission shall select the
highways to be comprised in the ma
tiCral system. consulting with the
state highway departments.
The commission shall construct and
maintain the highways or arrange
with the state highway departments
to supervise the construction and
maintenance subject to the control of
the commission. Only such durable
types and adequate widths of surface
as will meet the traffic conditions and
probable future needs.
No money is to be spent under the
act in any state until its legislature
has assented, except that until the
final adjournment of the first regular
session of the legislature, the assent
of the governor shall be sufficient
The rights of way for the highway
shall be transferred to the United
States as fully as may be permitted
under the constitution of each state.
The rights of way to be not less than
sc feet wide, except where physical
conditions, excessive costs, or legal
obstacles render the attainment of
such width impracticable.
The highways are to be construct
ed. maintained and regulated except
as otherwise provided at the expense
o. the United States.
The commission is given authority
to make the necessary regulations to
preserve and protect the highways.
All of the powers and duties of the
secretary of agriculture related to
highways or public roads as contain
ed in the acts making appropriations
for the department of agriculture and
the act making appropriations for aid
to the states in the construction of
rural post roads are transferred to
the national highway commission. and
all the powers and duties of the
council of national defense in relation
to highways, highway transportation
and public roads are transferred to
the national highway commission.
The bill appropriates S5O,0OO,OOO to
become available Immediately, $75,-
100000 for the fiscal year beginning
July l. 1920, and s1OO,00O,000 for
each of the three succeeding years. In
all S425 ,0OO, 900 which shall be avail
able until expended.
The commission is required to make
a report each year to Congress, show
ing in detail the operations and ex-