New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-09-10
ROAD BUILDING
HAVING A BOOM
HOW FEDERAL COOPERATION is
CAUSING VAST AMOUNT OF
HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION.
BIG SUMS ARE BEING SPENT
Governments Share in This Immense
Undertaking Is Greater Than the
Cost of the Panama canaI-Some
Interesting Figures.

Cost of the Panama canaI-Some
Interesting Figures.
BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.
Washington.-Road operations I'M
der the federal aid road act thus far
initiated aggregate in length nine
times the distance from New York to
San Francisco, according TO Thomas ii.
Macdonald, chief of the bureau of
public roads, department of agricul-
ture. The federal governments share
in this undertaking is greater than the
o s of the Panama canal. The particl-
patton of the national government In
highway Improvement marked a depar-
ture from a policy which had been fol-
lowed for nearly a century. Federal
cooperation with the states on approx
imately a 'JO-5O' basis has counted
more than any other factor. Jays Mr..
Macdonald, in initiating highway o.
structiOn that Is being carried on IN
der adequate supervision In accord
with a program cO-Ordinating local,
stdtt anu ndtlOnhl neeuS.
Sixty per cent Of the total allotment
of federal funds which has been ap-
proved to date will be spent for roads
of such durable types as bituminous
concrete, Portland cement concrete and
vitrified brick. These roads, when
built, will increase by 1900 miles the
total Of 14,4OO miles of roads of this
class which existed in the United
States before the federal aid road law
was passed. But these figures by no
lean represent the total mileage af-
fected.
Vast Fund Available This Year.
In 1915 the total expenditure for
roads and bridges by all the states and
local governments was $267 10000,
while this year the estimated funds
available for main road construction
are nearly three times that amount, or
$633,OOO,OOO. In all, federal funds to
the amount OF S266, 10000 have been
appOrtioned among 4S states without a
suggestion of favOritism-sO adequate
I ~ DioN lpi Al just uDl'oi
tionment.
One of the early and most far.reach-
ing results directly attributable to the
adoption of the federal aid program
was the creation of adequate state
highway departments in II states
which previously had either no state
department. or departments INSULT
ciently equipped. Within one year
after the passage of the federal aid
road act more constructive state ligh-
way legislation was placed upon the
statute books than had ever been
enacted In a similar period In the his
tory of the country.
The insistence of the government on
the construction of federal aid roads
under the supervision of engineers of
the state department has resulted In
placing n much larger proportion of
road work under skilled direction. In
1915, the year before the federal aid
act was passed. only 30 per cent Of the
money for roads and bridges built In
the United States was expended under
the supervision of state highway de-
partments. This year these depart
ments will exercise control owe fully
50 per cent of the large sums that will
be spent for road building.
Waterway Projects to Fore.
An increasing demand that con-
gress shall give serious consideration
TO the matter of improved trans
portation facilities is noted. A
large number of candidates for seats
In the house OF representatives are this
year promising that, If elected, they
will do what they can to bring about
facilities for handling the prod
ucts OF the country. Activity along
the following lines may be expected
when the new congress meets:
I. An effort to commit this govern
Il a Great Lakes and high
way project.
.. Legislation paving the way for n
canal across northern Indiana and
northern Ohio, connecting Lake Mich
igan with Lake Erie.
3. DrONlSlOn Tor an miami wafer
route along the entire length of the
Atlantic coast.
4. Futher steps toward utilizing the
1avigable rivers of the country, par
tioularly the Mississippi and the Ohio.
3. Legislation relating TO the in
use OF the Interstate highways
Of the country by motortrucks.
Various local organizations arc now
irving these several branches of the
transportation subject consideration.
Fourteen states, for instance, have
oined In forming what they call the
Great Lakes Tidewater association. /
This group of states lies between Penn
,~ylvania on the east and Idaho on the
vest. The purpose Of this organiza-
ion is to work for a system of deep
inland waterways from the Great
axes TO the Atlantic ocean.
Consent Of Canada Needed.
This project. IL carried out. would
'e a joint activity since the United
could not go ahead with it
Without the consent of Canada. Up
o this time Canada has not shown
zen interest in the -oject for the
eason, IT is asserted. that the Cana
ian government is disposed TO prefer
he Hudson bay route TO the cean.