Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1921-06-25
Federal-Aid Roads Under
Construction Or Completed
More $4,000 Clay And Gravel Account
For Third Of Total Co-Had Surfaced Roads Total
Nearly 5000 Mles-Traifc Determines Some

OF the 22.030 miles OF Federal-aid
roads which have been built or are
now under construction. more than
two-thirds are earth roads. sand-clay.
or gravel. says the chief of the Blu
reau OF Public Roads. United States
Department OF Agriculture. These
have cost less than one-ihird OF the
total amount expended as compared
with nearly 80 per cent OF the esti-
mated cost applied 10 1880 miles Of
hard-surfaced roads A study of To-
cal conditions by an engineer OF the
bureau is necessary before a road
project may receive Federal aid
Type Determined BY Traffic
The type of road to be used and the
most suitable surface with respect to
the traffic OF the locality must be de-
termined Service must be satisfac-
tory. while costs must be kept low,
both for building and maintenance.
There must be a careful analysis both
OF the engineering and economic con-
ditions for each particular project.
There are individual considerations in
every case which affect the determi-
nation as to the best type OF road
materials for that locality
The mileage OF Federal-aid roads
which have been built or are now un-
der construction is nearly, sufficient
10 cncirclc the globe This is the
record OF work accomplished since
July. 1916, when the Federal Gov
eminent first stepped in to aid in the
enormous task OF building highways
that are now called upon TO carry
more than 100000 motor vehicles
plus very substantial hOrse-drawn
traffic in the Is States.
The Federal-aid law is well named
The Department of Agriculture has
given the broadcast possible construc-
ton to the law for the purpose OF
providing the greatest mileage of high
ways suited 10 the traffic to be car
ried over them at the minimum ex-
pense. An analysis by the Bureau OF
Public Roads OF the projects under
contract shows that all types of roads
from the graded earth road up TO the
finest paved surfaces. have been built.
Help Build 222,O30 Niles OF Highway
On March ] of this year. 22,O3O
miles of highway. extending into every
State, had been completed or were in
process of construction. says the bu-
reau, at a total estimated cost OF $751;
946.S6S
The States initiate the road prof.
ects. but before Federal aid Is granted
an engineer OF the bureau makes an
inspection OF the roads to be improved.
studies the local conditions. consults
with the State highway department.
and no projects are approved which
are not considered suited to the con
ditions 10 be met. Many popular fall
lacies exist as TO road Improvement.
and there have been many misconcep-
tons as TO the types of roads on
which Federal-aid funds may be used.
Properly built earth roads. say spe-
ciallsts OF the department. are the
fundamental requirement in all high
way Improvement
Regardless of the material or type
OF surfacing which is To be placed.
the preparation of the roadbed re-
quires the highest engineering skill
and experience The department con
siders that the use of adequate sums
for the securing of proper location.
through drainage. permanent bridges
and culverts. and the elimination OF
railroad crossings is demanded if en-
during improvements are to result
Federal aid is allotted TO the inn
provement OF earth roads but only