The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-01-13
FEDERAL ROAD Plan

Secretary Of Agriculture Suggests
That Attention be Given to
Extension Of Aid.
Hopes Congress Will Provide AddI-
tional Funds at Next Session
to Avert Halt in Work.
Last weeks Union published, in
synoptic form, that part of Secretary
OF. Agriculture Mercdith's annual re-
port which covered farm production,
and this week gives his. suggestions
on continuing the federal road plan
which appears in the same document.
Immediate consideration should be
given by congress to plans for extend
ing the federal aid bodybuilding pro-
gram, the period for which by the
original act, as amended, terminates
with the close of the present fiscal
year, declared the secretary. In or
der that there may be no hating in
the work it is hoped, he said, that the
congress will, at its next session, pro
vide additional funds, to be expended
under the terms of existing legislation
with certain notifications, at the rate
Of 500, 100000 a year for a period of
five years, beginning with July 1, 1921
Future legislation, he declares,
should not disturb the principles en-
bodied in the act of 1916, which have
been tried out and found to be so salts
factory, and only those changes should
be made which experience has clearly
shown to be desirable. His report in
cludes this;
"The principal notifications in mind
relate to the problem confronting the
western states in highway work be-
cause of the existence in many of
them Of large arc:.s If public lands,
and to the maintenance of federal-aid
roads by the state highway agencies
rather than by the counties. The as
ISOLATION of state highway officials, at
it's meeting on December. 1919, unani-
mously approved the continuance of
the present plan of federal participa-
ton in, road building with these and
other notifications.
'The fact that the present approrr:.
alton may not be entirely expended by
June 80, 1921, does not lessen the
necessity of immediate action. Both
the federal and state highway depart
ments should know, as promptly as
possible, the program for the next five
years in order that TIE work may be
adequately planned and the engineer
ing and administrative details careful
ly executed. Forty Of the state legis:
latures will be in session tt:.-is winter,
when it will be necessary for them to
make the requisite provision for meet
ing future federal appointments.
From every standpoint, therefore, it
is essential that legislation for the
continuance Of the program now under
way be promptly enacted.
Provision should be made also for
the continued building, On an adequate
scale, of roads within or adjacent to
the national forests. The forest road
systems are very closely related to
those Of the states, and the major for
est projects form important links ii
essential state and interstate high
ways. There are approximately 49,
600 miles Of roads within the forests
which connect with state and county
highway systems. The building Of
forest roads, therefore, is an inpar-
tant part Of the general road develop
ment plan Of the west, both within and
without the forest areas. In addition,
the transportation Of forest products.
the protection and administration of
the forests themselves, and their utiI-.
izaticn for recreaticnal purposes are !.
all dependent upon the construction
and maintenance Of serviceable ra.o!ss"'
In view Of the abnormal conditions
which have prevailed since 1916 the
report stated, the progress that has
been made in placing large highway
program under way is
surprisingly good. In the three years,
1917, 1918. and 1919, there were APP
proved GIT projects, calling for the
of $3.50 miles of good
road and involving total cost of $685.
418,673. of which the federal share
was $23,931, 618. During the fiscal
year 1920, 1,670 projects submitted by
the state. involving the Improvement.
Of 1850 miles and total allotment of
S1O9, 1880, 1856 of federal funds were an
proved. At the end of the year 14.94O
niles Of federal-aid roads, on which
BIOS, 925,094 of federal funds had.