The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-01-22
is TINE FOR EVERY
CITIZEN TO ACT
CALL FOR HELP COMES FROM
OFFICE OF STATE CON-
MISSIONER.

II the people of Idaho want road
building program adequate to the
needs of the state a prompt response
should be made to the following APP
peal from VIM. J. Hall, state commits
sioner of public works:
The last of the federal aid appro-
priations previously made by congress
becomes Available July 4. 1920.
Practically all of Idaho's allotment
of federal funds has already been alb
sorbed
| 1t is of the utmost Importance to
Idaho that liberal federal aid appro-
ipriations be made by congress, and
the appropriation bill should be pass
ed and approvde at the earliest possi-
Bile date, Many resolutions and mem
orials have been presented to congress
urging prompt favorable action on ad-
ditional appropriations.
This department is in receipt of ad-
vices from Washington to the effect
that the slogan of all party leaders in
| both house and senate is economy
and retrenchment," and that it will
require concerted effort on the part of
! those interested in the continuance
and extension Of road work to obtain
| favorable action. Undoubtedly "a sim
cere effort to inaugurate a policy Of
economy and retrenchment will meet
| with hearty and widespread approval,
hut most people will agree that there
| IS plenty of room for the exercise of
such policy without cutting off APP
preparations which are vital to the
highway Improvement program of
every state in the union.
If additional federal aid appropria-
tons are not made at this time, it
Twill mean that many comprehensive
construction programs must he aban-
doned, and that the people would have
voted for bond issues with the expec-
tation of receiving cooperative federal
funds will become discouraged, and
that the cooperative spirit and en-
thusiasm for road construction which
has grown up in the past few years
will die of inanition.
The principle of federal aid in high
way construction has been demon :
strated to be sound and that 1t Is
popular and has had the effect of en- :
lcouraging road building, Is evidenced
by the fact that for each dollar of
federal funds made available for CO.
operative work, it is estimated that
more than six dollars state, county
and highway district funds have been
raised for the same purpose.
IL federal aid is not continued there
Is grave danger that the road pro-
grams now formulated will receive a
setback from which it will require
years to recover. Nearly every COM
immunity in Idaho has such program
and has provided funds to apply on
its construction, in whole or in part
during the next three or four years. II
follows, therefore, that every com =
immunity in Idaho is interested in the
continuance and extension of federal
aid.
The convention of American Asso-
citation of State Highway Officials,
held at Louisville KY, December S-11,
1919, passed resolutions and memor-
ials to congress asking for the follow
ing appropriations:
Federal post aid-$100, 100000 per
va for
Federal forest aid-$10,000,00 for
] lie next -four years. This lis for the
construction of roads in and adjacent
to the national forests.
Federal aid for roads on Indian res
ervations and other lands held by the
United States outside of national for
ests--S2, 100000 for year ending June
30, 1921, and thereafter 100000 per
year for five years.
In each case the first appropriation
would become available July /, 1920
In order to demonstrate that the
sentiment of the people of the country
is Overwhelmingly in favor of prompt
and liberal action, 1t is requested that
every board of county commissioners
every board of highway district COM
missioners. every city council, every
chamber of commerce or commercial
club in fact every public or semi pub
lie body, pass resolutions endorsing
the action of the Louisville conven-
ton in asking congress for federal aid
appropriations and that copies OF
such resolutions be forwarded imme
diately to Hon. Burton l.. French
Hon. Addison T. Smith, Hon. w. E.
Borah and Hon. J. f. Nugent, and to
the clerks of the house of representa-
tives and United States senate. A
copy forwarded TO the department OF
public works, l.oise Idaho, would al
so be appreciated Letters from pri-
Vate citizens would also be of value
The governors OF the states west OF
the Rocky mountains are appointing
delegations to confer with the COM
mittees on appropriations at Wash
ington on February g. 1890. 1t is
therefore important that as many
resolutions as possible be forwarded
to Washington in order that they may
be delivered not later than the last
/ uaal. in Ja,,,,a