Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-09


lief OF this association that all of the
present State highway or trunk line
system as now laid out by the nigh-
way commi ssion could be included I'M
der the designation of inier-county
roads, the point being that undoubt-
edlv under the new bill federal aid
could be applied TO the state highway
system as now laid out. either under
The designation of primary. or inter-
state highways. or secondary: or in
ter-county highways. A reading of
section 6 of the bill in Congress would
seem to indicate not a very strict re-
quircment that 40 per cent of the fed
eral funds must be expended on the
!nter-bunty highways. Section of
said bill reads as follows:
sec. s. That in approving projects
70 receive federal aid under the pro-
visions a this act the secretary of
agriculture shall give preferences to
such projects as will expedite the com
pletion OF an adequate and connected
system of highways, interstate IN
character.
Before any projects are approved in
any state, such state. through its state
designate not to exceed seven per
ccntum OF the total highway mileage
of such states as shown by the rec
ords of the state highway department
at the time of the passage of this aet:
Upon this system all federal-aid
appointments shall be expended
HIGHWAYS WHICH MAY RE-
GENE FEDERAL AID SHALL Bt;
DIVIDED INTO Two CLASSES. ONE
PRIMARY OR 1NTERsTATE HIGH
WAYS. AND SHALL NOT EXCEED
THREE -sEEENTHS OF THE total.
MILEAGE WHICH MAY RECEIvF'
rHnERAL AIp AN ASB TH 4, IS 8T InI
nELATE THEREWITa AND B1
TF,NCDI'NTy HIGHWAYS AND
SHALL. COSst:T or THE REMAIN
DER or TIE MILEAGE WHICH
MAY RECEIVE FEDERAL. AID.
"rhc secrttafv or agriculture shall
have authority TO approve in whole or
il, part the systems as designated or
t. require notifications or reVisions
thereof: Provided. that the states shall
for his approval any proposed re.
Visions of the designated systems CT
highways above provided for.
NOT MORE THAN so PER CEN
TIN or AL EEDE Fl. In Alp AZ
RE EXPENDED UPON THE PRIMA-
KY OR INTERSTATE. HIGHWAYS
ENTIL PROVISION HAS BEEN
MADE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT or
THE ENTIRE SYSTEM o., sICtl
THE APPROVAL OF ANY STATE
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT THINSEI-
RETARY OF AGRICULTURE MAY
APPROVE THE EXPENDITURE OF
THE 'EnERAL AID APFORTlONE,D
TO SIGH STATE UPON THE PRi-
MARY OR INTERSTATE HIGH
WAYS IN SUCH STATE.
The secretary of agriculture may
approve projects submitted by the
the selection. designation and APPROX
nj of the system Of federal aid high
WAYS herein provided for if he may
reasonably anticipate that such pro-
jects will become a part Of such sys-
TEN.
Whenever provision has been made
by any State for the completion and
maintenance of system OF primary
or interstate and secondary or inter
county highways equal to ! per CEN
tum of the total mileage of such state.
as required by this act. said state,
through it's state highway depart
ment. by and with the approval of
the secretary of agriculture, is here
by authorized to add to the milea &C
of primary or interstate and secondary
or intcrcounty systems as funds be
come available for the construction
and maintenance of such additional
mileage
We have noticed that in the dis
cuss:ons above referred to the infer
ence is made that unless bond money
is provided for the construction of
state aid roads these roads will not
be eligible for federal aid. We have
never seen anything in any fedora
legislation to indicate that the gov
eminent requires that funds for meet =
ing federal aid shall be raised by bond
issue. Direct appropriations are not
barred and there is no doubt but that
federal aid could he secured for State
aid projects financed as at present if
the secretary of agriculture would
approve the expenditure of federal aid
on such disconnected projects. The
iirst paragraph of Section 6 above
quoted would seem to direct the secre-
tary OF agriculture not to give prefer
encH TO such disconnected projects
The question of maintenance has
also been discussed and it has been
pointed out that by accepting the pro-
posed amendment changes in the pres
tnt laws contingent upon such accept
ance viii Immediately make available
about SbO0.HO0 for maintenance pur-
poses. State Auditor Wardweu has
recently pointed out that conservative
estimate OF the income from auto
mobiles during the present fiscal year.
together with the balance in the main
tenance fund on July !. 1921. should
make available for maintenance pur-
poses during this year the sum of ST.
Ho2.opU The highway department. s
budget estimate of maintenance re-
qu!rcments presented to the budget
committee on october l. 1920 and also
presented to the LEGISLATURE. calls for
$500 400. If the auditors estimates are
correct. and we believe they are, it
would appear that il will not be ncces-
SarS 10 secure maintenance money by
the suhterfucc of issuing bonds for
state highway construction and taking
The state h !ghwaY construction mon
!y provided ~ direct taxation for
maintenance"