The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-09-01
FEDERAL AID

A Telegram reader few days ago wrote to
ask for information about the provisions of the
new federal road aid bill and we had put the re-
quest aside for future attention, not having the
desired information Immediately available. But
The Miami Herald comes to the rescue with an
editorial which sets forth in detail the important
points included in the measure According to the
Herald there ale some rather radical changes in the
recent bill for state aid to roads from the old BILL
passed in June, 1916, the principal being that the
control Of these state-aided roads is taken out of
the hands CT the council for national defense and
placed under the secretary of agriculture. An
ether change is in the amount appropriated for
state road aid that amount being seventy
five millions CT dollars for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1922, twenty-five millions being made
available Immediately
Briefly, while the present law is very similar
to the one whose place it takes, its provisions in
clude the appropriation of the money necessary to
more perfect cooperation with the several states
in road building
Before any projects approved in any state,
says the new law, such state shall designate not
to exceed seven per cent of the total highway
mileage of the state. and upon this system all
federal aid shall be expended.
Highways which may receive federal aid are
to be divided into two classes Primary, CT in
tersate, which shall not exceed three-sevenths of
the total mileage which may receive federal aid
and the other class shall connect herewith, and
this class is to be known as secondary or inter-
county highways. Not more than sixty per cent
Ct the federal aid extended shall be spent upon
the primary interstate highways.
Before any state project can be approved in
any state such state must max provision for state
funds required each year of the state by the present
law and shall also be required to make provision
for maintenance of the federal aid roads, All high
ways constructed under this law shall be free
from all tells
A change is made in the requirements of road
construction. The new law says that all high
ways in the primary or interstate system con-
structed after the passage of this act shall have
right of way of ample width and a wearing sur
face Of an adequate width, which shall not be
less than twenty feet, unless that is impracticable
by reason of physical conditions excessive COSTS
probable traffic requirements or legal difficulties.
The money arising from the appropriation for
roads will be divided among the states that CO.
operate with the national government one-third
in the ratio which each state bears to the area of
all the states. one-thrd in the ratio which the popu-
lation of the state bears to the total population
Of the states, cne-thrd in the ratio which the
mileage of rural delivery routes and star routes
in each state bears to the total mileage of rural
delivery routes and star routes in all the states
Nc state is to receive less than one-half of one
per cent of each years allotment.
The Herald adds that it was hoped the bill
just passed would carry at least one hundred
million appropriation each year, but the amount
was cut tc seventy-6ve millions and from all that
can be learned, Florida's portion of the federal
aid fund will not be very large, net nearly as
large as was hoped the state would receive, be-
cause Of cur sparse population, which will be COM
pcrqaled but partially on account of our large area