The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-09-17
fair to say that the federal aid road

fair to say that the federal aid roa
act is not a cure-all. We are begin
ming to find out that there are som
things we cannot do, some roads "
cannot improve, with federal ait
Federal aid is not applicable to a.
the highway problems OF Montana
While the administration of the &C
has of necessity been of gradual de
velopment, two and one-half years O
l experience with it has demonstrate
that In general the application of fed
eral aid in respect to Montana's high
ways is restricted, both as to loca
tion and type of construction.
State System Is Basis
| All federal aid projects must b,
based upon a system of state high
ways the total mileage of which, al
requested by the federal bureau O
roads, shall not exceed 1000 miles
This regulation will permit the sub
initial of projects lying on, say, two
main east and west high ways and
four main north and south highways
traversing the state. The unfortun.
ate thing about 1t, however, is that
many of the important haulage roads
of the state do not lie on such a sys-
tenn of roads. Furthermore, since
the counties are paying the states
part of the cost of projects now I'M
der construction, there has quite nat
urally been a disposition to view the
Importance of the project from the
state wide standpoint.
AS regards the type of improve
ment, the federal bureau of roads has
not always agreed with us that pro-
jects approved and submitted by the
commission represented "substan-
tiar' improvements as contemplated
by the act. 1t has not been an easy
thing to reconcile the federal govern
ment's requirements with what you
know and we know to be the imme-
date and urgent conditions affect
ing the road problem of Montana,
and in some cases 1t has been utterly
impossible to do so.
Some Are Rejected
AS result of this, not few pro-
jects approved by the state highway
commission have been rejected by the |
federal bureau of roads with conse- |;
Quent disappointment on the part of |
state and local officials. But as / see |
It, this condition does not justify a |
criticism of federal aid, but rather
forces us to a realization of the
states responsibility in aiding the
several counties to meet situation
'apidly growing beyond them.
am positive that there are many
needed and worthy projects through
tut the state for which no federal aid
an be secured, and am just as posi-
i've that the state should participate
n the cost of such important pro-
ects. From the standpoint of Mon
ana's finances and Montana's condi-
ions, projects of the character re-
erred to are substantial. / feel safe
q assuring you that if the proposed I
5 million dollar bond issue is au- =.
horized by the people, the state will q
ecognize the necessity for the con- '
of certain road improve
tents in accordance with standard {
Glow that required by the provisions '
the federal aid road act. t
State Aid Granted t
The state highway commission has t
ready established this precedent in b
ranting state aid in connection with
lad betterments of substantial char
ter for which no federal funds p
,uld be secured. e
The commission has been giving 81
thought to the impera- fl
We necessity for certain legislation N
lattng to highway matters. The G
70 subjects that seem particularly b
gent at this time are these: lol
Maintenance Of highways. lp,
Control of weight and speed of a
attic. al
Maintenance Is Essential Oh
We are embarking upon a road OF
Hiding program that will place
less we neglect to provide for the
aintenance Of the highways we
lid. We admit the need for more
,hly improved roads and we must
NIT the business requirement that
investment be maintained and
'petuated. I know of no more Sc
us phase of the highway problem
lfronting US. On several occasions
lnty commissioners have confessed
me that the maintenance problem
last getting beyond the ability of
counties.
The situation demands careful
ught and consideration; and 1t is
n1f1cant that your association has
ected its legislative committee to
ng this matter to the attention of
next general assembly.
Excessive speed and weight of
ffic affects materially the main
ance of highways, and they also
ect the safety of the travelling
lie. AS highway improvements
gress, the speed of traffic will Il
ease unless 1t is controlled. II
cover, If the weight of traffic is +
nitted to increase without res
ton, Montana will find her high
8 of today destroyed by the ex-
i've and unanticipated loads of y
orrow. The state highway COM r
zion solicits the earnest co-opera-
of your association in devising
ms for the proper and equitable i