Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1920-08-26
HOW UNCLE SAM HELPS
STATES TO BUILD ROADS

| STATES TO BUILD ROADS
The unprecedented stimulus given
highway construction In the United
States in the four years that have
passed since the federal government
entered upon it's policy OF aiding
read Improvement is shown by the
fact that road operations under the
federal aid road act thus tar iniu.
ated aggregate in length nine times
he distance from New York to San
r ancisco, according to Thomas
Macdonald. chief Of the bureau OF
public roads, The federal govern
nIent's share, in this stupendous un-
dertaking Is greater than the cost OF
the Panama canal. The participa-
tion OF the national government IN
highway improvement marked n de-
rarture from a policy which had
been followed for nearly n century.
Federal cooperation with the States
on approximately "5O-50" basis
has counted more than any other
factor, says Mr.. Mcdonald. in initi-
ating highway construction that is
being carried on under adequate su-
pervisiOn. and in accord with pro-
gram coordinatin local. State and
national needs,
Second only In importance to the
size OF the present road building
program is the excellence of the
character of the roads being built.
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 btu
minous concrete, Portland cement con-
crete and vitrified brick. These
Il, IL. l~,,Il.
| 1900 miles the total Of 14.4OO miles
of roads of this class which existed
in the United States before the fed
eral aid road law was passed. But
these figures by no means represent
the total mileage affected.
In 1915. the .otal expenditure for
roads and bridges by all the States
and local govrnments was $267.-
100000, while this year the estimat-
cd funds available for main road
CONSTRUCTION are nearly three times
that amount. or $633.000.000. In
ALL federal funds to the amount OF
$266.750.OO0 have been apportioned
among 4S States. without suggestion
of favoritism. so adequate are the
provisions for n just apportionment.
The federal governments present
program of highway Improvement Is
the result of two acts: The federal
aid road act. signed by the president
July IL, 1916. and provisions in the
postoffice appropriation bill for 1920.
| signed February 2S. 1919. containing
an amendment to the original federal
| aid road act. The original appropri-
| alton Of s75. 900. 900 was made avail
| able for rural post roads in Install
| ments at the rate OF s5,O0O.O0O for
| the fiscal year ending June 80. 1917:
S1O,000.OO0 for the fiscal year 1918;
Sic. 100000 for the year 1919: $20.-
| 900. 600 for the year 1920. and $25.-
100000 far the fiscal year ending
4 June. 1921.
| The apportionment of the post
| road appropriations OF the States
after deducting the administrative
| fund. which must not exceed 3 per
cent. is based upon area. population
| and mileage OF rral delivery and star
| routes in each State. Each Of these
factors has a weight OF one third.
All Of these federal funds may be
| expended only for construction and
must not exceed so per cent. Of the
value of the roads. In other words.
the States. either directly or through
county or other government units. are
| required to bear something more
than half OF the total cost Of their
| road Improvement.
Under the law the secretary Of
| agriculture is charged with the ad-
| Elinistration of the federal aid act.
| He has assigned the details OF ad-
| ministration to the chief OF the bu-
| reau of public roads. a branch of the
department which is considered to be
in closer touch with the highway situ-
alton and requirements of the country
4 as whole than any other agency in
| the United States.
| The federal act requires that road
projects for federal aid he initiated by
| the States AZ first step n state
| ment is forwarded to the district en-
| gineer Of the bureau OF public roads.
| announcing In effect that the State
proposes to build piece OF road OF a
certain type and length in n certain
| location. This notice known as a pro-
1ect statement. !s accompanied by an
estimate OF cost. The project state
| ment Is examined by the district en-
| cineer to determine whether the pro-
| jcct complies with the federal road
| act. II his decision Is favorable he
| sends the statement to Washington
with his recommendation. There It
| is examined by the chief engineer
and his assistants, and II the latter
concurs in the recommendation of
the district engineer the project Is
placed before the secretary Of ag-
riculture for his approval. Until the
secretary has acted no further ac-
ton is taken by the State. Over half
Of the projects handled are passed
by district officers in an average OF
five days.