The copper era and Morenci leader., 1921-12-30
EFFECT OF NEW FEDERAL AID BILL ON. CONSTRUCTION OF. ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

The sum of $1,05S, ,2S144 is made available to Arizona as Federal Aid for road construction, being this States allotment under the new Fed eral Highway Act signed by President Harding The act carries an appro- priation of $75,0OO, GOO for highway construction in. the various states, and must be matched, dollar for dol lar by state funds except in states where more than 5 per cent of the area is un-appropriated public lands. Arizona falls in this class. Tn addi- tion, $15,000.000 is appropriated for national forest roads, and from this Arizona will receive an additional amount
 The $75,000,000 appropriated is for the fiscal year ending June 3O 1922, and $25,00O,0 ,000 of the sum is i'm mediately available. The balance becomes available January 1, 1922
 Texas received the largest allot- ment, it being $4,425, ,172.41. New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois are in the three million class Califor- mia, Iowa., Kansas Michigan, Min nesota, Missouri, Ohio, each received an allotment in, excess of $2,9O0, ,O0O. Thirty-two states received an allot- ment greater, than Arizona's, and 15 states received less.
 In "a general way the new Fedora, Aid Act follows that of 1916 but contains several innovations. The administration of the act by the. Se- cretary of Agriculture, and under him the bureau of public roads, remains unchanged, despite the attempts to switch the control to Federal high way commission 4,7s-4s4
 s Apportionment of the, fund. to the states is almost the same as in the previous act. the fund being divided into three parts, one part apportioned according to population. one accord ing to area, and one part according to mileage of rural and star mail routes. A new feature is the stipula. tion that no state shall receive less than one-half of per cent of the total fund which, in this case, amounts to s365S625.s This stipulation will in. crease the amount received by four of the smaller states. namely. Della. ware. New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
 There is considerable change however, in the manner in which a state may use it's allotment. Each state must select a connected road sysem not exceeding per cent oi it's road m1eage for improvement with Federal Aid This system will be divided into two classes. one oi which will be known as interstate highways and the other as inter highways must not exceed three 0f 1,o r- them not more than co per cent of the States allotment can be spent with out the joint approval of the Secre tary of Agriculture and the State ! Highway Department The inter county highways, which consist ot the demainder of the system selected will receive the remainder of the States allotment
 The classification of interstate anG intercountv highways is now beins worked out by the State Highway Department.
 :l Except in states where more thar per cent of the area is unappro priated public land. the amount O Federal Aid on any prciect must no exceed 50 per cent of the estimated cost In Arizona and other states where more than , per cent of tn, area is unapproDriated public land the 30 per cent allotment is increaset by an amount equal to one-half tht percentage of unappropriated publi: land in the State. Before any fund: can be- pad to 8 State. the Statt must appropriate money under thu direct control of the State Higbwa, Department. to match the Federa allotment. and for the maintenance of Federal Aid highways.
 Other features of the act are al follows:
 l. The initiative in locating roads to receive Federal Aid shall remaiI in the states subject to the an proval of. the Department of Agricul ture.
 2. The several highway department shall lay out a system of interstat' and intercounty roads subject to tn approval of the Department of Agr3 culture.
 8. State funds put up to matcl Federal Aid. from whatever sourc' derived, shall be subject to the direc 4 control of the highway department of the several states.
 4 The states shall be held respor sibIe for the maintenance and repai of all Federal Aid highways.
 Longest Paved Highway in State
 With the exception of a single mile it will soon be possible to travel oYe State and county pavement all tn way from Goodyear to Buckeye i
 Maricopa county. The distance GA miles and, of this. 57 miles hay been completed providing the longes stretch of paved highway in Arizona The mileage will be reduced as 500 as proper paving connections ar made in the city of Phoenix, for i