The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1921-12-02
FEDERAL AID BILL
nELPING ROADS
IS NOW ALAW'
Townsend Claims 1t Carries
His Most Important
Contentious.

washineton. ID. c.-President Hard
7inS,s signing OF the highway bill re-
Ie7.ees y7b. .ooo, 900 for Federal aid roads
nfanx states have been awaiting the
/. .nnropriation OF Federal funds before
is,,nchinsr ON their highway programs
Inlnneiiate building Is expected 10 star'
N many quarters with consequent mn
prUvement IN employment conditions,
senator Charles y. Townsend mas
been leading the campaign Tor the pas
SAGE OF this act which Incorporates
most OF the principles for which he mas
been fiRhting. Primarily u demnndh
that portion OF the Government funds
81 sci aside for upkcep, 70 tflsit me
..-..-.nal Investment win not be allow
~ 81 deteriorate. Provision Is also
noade for aiiocating n percentage OF
are funds for interstate highways
spcrial appropriations are made ror
forest roads and trails. The Senator ID
rhalyman or the Senate Committee on
Po~toffaces and Post Roads.
..lt has always been my position
senator Townsend says In commenting
IN the bill, that the principle OF Fed
..ss 49,. Ia ion In the construction
~ certain roads should be accepted a.
nxionnatic. In my original bill, which
proysded for a Federal Highway COM
r,lssion TO administer Federal appro-
prlatIons and deal with highway prob
iens. provided that Federal money
should be expended only upon inter
sfate roads. with the completion OF
sh. ronneotlng backbone system the
Federal money then could have been
"a Ill lka tdrO
out through the counties.
eThe law recently enacted while pro-
vidIng that Federal money shall pc ex-
pended only upon a system cunaptina
of per cent OF the total rosn mile
are Within the State. nevertheless re-
rtricts hrec-sevenths Of that system
40 roads Interstate In character, and
with which must connect or correiats
ahe rcrnaining ur-sevenths OF the
system consisting OF secondary or an
fer-eounty roads However, 90 PEI
cent 81 the Federal aid allotted to each
stare must BE- expended upon the in-
.erstate roads IN the State system- but
the entire allotment OF Federal money
40 any state may be expended upon
this tyne OF road at the discretion OF
the particular, State Highway Depart
n.ent
The fnct that ln the future al FED
eral appropriations must be expended
under the direct control OF the state
Highway Departments. with the APP
provai OF the Secrenry OF Agriculture
seems 20 effectuaily eliminate the pos
sibsllty OF local politics entering into
road problema have always object
I'd 70 the taxing OF people OF one state
for local or political benefits 10 anoth-
"a. n viii no longer be possible In GER
tain States for rich counties TO match
practicaIly all OF the FEDERAL aid al
lotted. thus deprfving the poorer coun-
tlss OF their share In road improve
ments. Enforced maintenance. which
m the past has been such a crying
needs, Is now provided for with re-
spect 20 AL roads upon which federa
money has been expended.
.sThe labor necessary In road con-
struction and maintenance must have
ltr present effect in alleviating to som'
extent the unemployment situation
and with a connected system OF high
wavs, which we are hopeful Will bs
constructed, much OF the terror IN tn'
event OF n rhurottu phaSS's "'' '
been removed.
4 am confident that with the coon
Grafton between the Bureau OF Pubic
Roads and the sevcra State HIGHWAY
Departments, which is 80 essential
greaa strides in highway constructior
wIll be made. There is ample power
in The law TO ultimately secure the re-
suits which the friends Of good roads
have 10 hong striven for regard this
new law as one OF the most progressive
steps looking toward internal improve.
memt ever taken by the Congress