The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-09-23
Huge Funds Available
For Road Construction
u S. Department Of Agriculture reader

q. s. Department Of Agriculture reader.]
Unless federal action Is taken during
the current fiscal year concerning fed
eral aid in road building the resulting
uncertainty as to the future of this
work will seriously handicap the states
and cause the entire road program to
suffer serious setback, according to
Thomas H. Macdonald, chief OF the
Bureau of Public Roads. United States
Department Of Agriculture. In discuss
ing the need of federal action this year,
Mr. Macdonald points out that the
last instailments of federal-aid funds.
namely 100000. 900, became available
July /, 1920 When to this is added at
least an equal amount Of state funds,
as required 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 cur
rent year. But MFR. Macdonald points
out that the states should know at
least a year in advance what funds
are to he available in order that plans
can be made for future construction
ln the accompanying table are shown
the last installments of the two federal
aid appropriations Those Of 1916 and
1870 and the appointments to the
several states. The totals represent the
sums appropriated, less 3 per cent set
aside for administration. When these
funds have been taken by the states no
other federal aid will be available un-
less further appropriations are made
The last superintendent OF federal
funds to aid the states in road con-
struction under the existing federal
aid act became available July 1st,',
said MIR. Macdonald. This is the
largest apportionnent vet certified I'M
der the federal-aid act, amounting to
S100.0OO,0C0. three-quarters of which is
derived from the appropriation Of 1919
and S2a.0e0.0OO from the original APP
Precipitation of 1916. 4 deduction Of
$$:5,0OO.oO0, or , per cent Of the funds,
will he made to provide for the expense
of administering the federal-aid act by
the DeDal tment of Agriculture The
balance of 97.0OOOOO will be divided
among the states III proportion to their
population. area, and mileage OF post
roads. TIE allotments to the several
states from the two portions of the
fund are given in the accompanying
table of superintendent.
FoassAI AGREEMENTS REQUIRED.
:. Under the law the states are re-
uuired to enter into formal agreements
with the Secretary Of Agriculture for
the construction upon which this money
is to he used before JULY /, 1922. Any
money which is not taken up before
that time will be reappo-tioned among
all the states in the same manner in
which the original appointments are
made. All previous anportionments
have been taken up in the time allotted,
and it is not likely that the states will
fail to absorb this last superintendent.
10 do SO. however. will mean that the
states must survey, plan, and let con-
tracts for at least S2OO.OOO.OOO worth
of federal aid road construction Iii the
next two years.
/" # the states continue to pay more
than 80 yer cent of the cost, as they
have in the past, the cost of the roads
constructed with this last apportion-
ment may reach $3.50, 100000. In other
words, it 5vill lie necessary to plan for
construction at the rate of at least
800. 0Oo,GG0. and probably more, per
year. Some appreciation Of what that