The Washington times., 1920-08-30
LACK P[ANFOR
.U.S.ROADFUND.
Macdonald Urges Program to
Distribute 100 Million to
States Next Year.

The entire Federal road-buildins
program will suffer a serious setback
unless Governmental action is taken
during the current riscal year for Fed
eral aid in road building. and thus re-
iieve the uncertainty as to the future
OF this work. according to q statement
made today by Thomas II. MseDonald,
chief OF the Bureau OF Public Roads
OF the Department OF Agriculture,
In discussing the need OF Federal
action this year, Macdonald pointed
out that the last installments OF Fed
eral-aid funds, amounting TO $lO0. 900,
900. became available July 1 last.
When to this Is added at least an
equal amount OF State funds, as res
quired by law, II States are to Sc
cure Federal aid. funds will be avail
able sufficient to carry the road con-
struction program forward for the
current year. But. as Macdonald
points out, the States should know at
least year in advance what funds
are to be available in order that plans
can be made for future construction.
OF the last apportionment Of Fed
eral funds TO aid the States in road
construction, amounting to 100000
600, three-quarters of this sum was
derived from the appropriation of
1919 and s25,000,0 900 from the original
appropriation of 1916. A deduction OF
$3,O00,O00, or 3 per cent OF the funds,
will be made to provide for the ex-
pense of administering the Federal
aid act by the Department OF Agricul-
ture. The balance of $4,000, 900 viii
be divided among the States in pro-
portion to their population, area and
mileage of post roads
STATES MUST COMPLY.
"Under the law the Ssates are re-
quired to enter into formal agree
ments with the Secretary of Agricul-
ture for the construction upon which
this money is to be used before July
]. 1922" said Macdonald. "Any money
which is not taken up before that
time will be reapportioned among all
the States in the same manner in
which the original apportionments
are made. All previous apportion-
ments have been taken up in the time
allotted and it is not likely that the
States will fail to absorb this last ap-
portionment. To do so, however, will
mean that the States must survey,
plan and let contracts for at least
$2O0,000OO0 worth OF Federal-aid
road construction in the next two
years"
Macdonald added that II the States
continue to pay more than so per
cent of the cost, as they have in the
past, the cost of the roads construct
ed with this last apportionment may
reach $3.50, 0,0OO,000. In other words, 1t
will be necessary to plan for con-
struction at the rate of at least
$100.000,0O0, and probably more, per
year. Some appreciation of what that
means may be CLEANED from the fact
that in 1915 the expenditure for all
roads in the United States. con-
structed under State supervision was
only $50, 900.
URGE CONGRESS TO ACT.
1.-THE States have had four years
In which to prepare for the expendi-
ture of the large funds which now
become available" said Macdonald.
They expect to be able to handle
them. What Is OF greater concern to
them at this time Is the condition
which may result II Federal appro-
priation are permitted to lapse. The
highway departments should know
At least year in advance what funds
are to be available in order that plans
may be made forfuture construction.
Unless, therefore, further Federal
action Is taken in the coming year
the States will be left in doubt as to
the future policy of the Government
Early Congressional action should be
taken to prevent a serious set back
TO the progress of road CONSTRUCT
tom