Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-10-20
LARGE SUMS
FOR ROAD WORK
AN IMPORTANT GOOD ROADS AP-
PRECIPITATION BILL is NOW
PENDING IN CONGRESS
lDAHO'S SHARE is S1,0O0,OOO
VIII Complete the North and South
Highway Next Year.

Practically a round million dollars
will be Idaho's share of the 75 mil
lion dollar fund for federal aid ON
highways, should the bill now pend
ing before congress become a law. The
measure has passed the senate and "a
now up for consideration before the
mousse OF representatives
Under the new measure all higb-
ways in the country are divided into
TWO classes-primary or Interstate
highways and secondary or inter-coun~
ty roads. The bill also provides that
states shall select not to exceed seven
per cent of the total number of miles
OF road in the state for Improvement.
Idaho, according to ID. P. Olson. di-
rector or the bureau of highways. has
$4,000 miles of highway in the state.
seven per cent of this amount is 210O
miles. The department has selected
the following roads as Idaho's primary
system and on which the majority of
tne FEDERAL funds shall be spent: The
North-Pacific highway, connecting
Montana and Washington through
northern Idaho; the North and South
highway; the Idaho-Pacific highway,
traversing the state from Wyoming 10
D-~ocAb ehC gong
north out of Idaho Falls to the Mon
taha llne; the Yellowstone Park high
way forming Idaho's entrance TO the
national playground, and the Idaho
Utah highway connecting southern
Idaho with Salt Lake.
me total length of these highways
IN Idaho is about 1000 miles and it is
on these roads that the majority of
tne federal funds will be spent The
Dill IN congress provides that 60 per
cent Oh the FUNDS allotted to any state
be spent on primary roads.
another new feature of the bill is
that the various states are not re-
qulred TO cooperate on a $3.50 basis
as stipulated In previous legislation on
FEDERAL aid for highway work. In re-
sponse TO a demand from President
the bill Incorporates the re-
quirement upon the states of keeping
the highways in repair after they are
punt. Failure to do this will cause
the government to place the roads in
good shape and cut off the state from
iurtner ana until the maintenance cost
is paid
Forest roads also are provided for
III the Dill with an appropriation of Is
million dollars. Idaho's share on ac-
count of large forest areas would be
about one million dollars annually.
lhese funds, however, must be spent
within the forest areas and are not
available for improvement of post
roads
sale of Idaho's two million dollar
highway bond issue recently will nut
new life into construction in the state
uhuer the provisions of a bill of the
lS2l session of the legislature which
appropriated three-fourths of the bond
issue to the counties of the state. 1919
per cent of the issue or two hundred
fifty thousand dollars, is to be snent
on the North and South highway. This
with federal aid would, high
way officials say, complete the North
ana South road and make it one of the
pest IN the state. Recent work done ON
that road has been of such a nature
as to improve only the very rough
parts.
Apporuonment to the various conn
ties OF one and one-half millions of
lhe issue was the states effort To
make good It's promise of reimburse
nent for the work done at the conn
hes expense. Many counties are can
cellng the states supposed obligation
and taking their share of the amor
-lonment of the bond proceeds for new
work.
Under the appropriation several
counties did not get as much as the
amount Of the claim against the state
Is recognized by the legislature.