The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-01-18
EXTENSION OF FEDERAL
~ ROAD BUILDING ASKED

-, The next congress will be urged,
according to the program formulated
by the American Roads Builders as
ISOLATION for its nationwide Good
Kcacs congress and National Good
Roads show to, be held in Chicago,
February 8 to II, to extend for tive
years the federaI .road-building pro-
gram which by law terminates with
the close OF the governments fiscal
year: . Congress. Will be urged to pro-
vide additionaI,f funds for expenditure
under the terms of B. existing legis-
lation, and the newly formed pro-
gram Of the congressional leaders at
the rate Of at least $100,00O,000 for
each of the five years beginning July
l, 1921. In the advocacy of this pro-
cedure the American Road Builders
association will be in hearty accord
with the attitude expressed by Secre-
tary OF Agriculture Meredith in his
recent annual report.
The American Road Builders as
sociat.cn, which includes in it's men,
bCrchlp the highway officials Of the
national government, and those of the
states. counties, cities ana townships
in the United States and Canada. to-
gether with highway engineers and
contractors and the manufacturers of
rCad-building machinery. road ma
terials and highway transportation
equipment, is also preparing to ask
President-elect Harding to recon-
mend i'm his inaugural address and in
his first message to congress, a broad
program of federal aid in highway
construction.
highway work already made by state
and municipalities-app
that total more than. one billion dol
lars according to the most relia Bile
reports covering bond issues and di-
rect levies for road building and road
maintenance, presage, it is believed,
an unprecedented volume of road
building for 1921. The sum Of $271,-
100000 voted in bond issues or ap-
propriated by eight states recently,
added to bond issues passed by eight
other states since 1918, makes $685.
100000 already available for road
work in sixteen states. Funds still
available thru Federal aid are placed
at $160,OOO,000 by officials of the
Bureau Of Public Roads. In addition,
funds obtained from direct levies
and other sources of state revenue
and county issues are estimated to
amount to $296,20O.OO0. The Chi
cago meeting will bring together
from all parts Of the country the men
who will supervise the expenditures
of these vast appropriations for a
thorough discussion of their prob
lens and an accurate estimate as to
the future.
The convention promises to be one
If the greatest in point of attend
ance and in result ever held in the
history of the good roads movement
The governors of several states and
territories of this country and Can
ada as we'll as the mayors of two
thousand American and Canadian
cities have been asked to appoint Of
fetal delegates to the meeting. In
some instances governors and mayors
Will head their delegations in per-
son. Seven thousand road and street
contractors and thousands Of army,
and chemical engineers,
agriculturists, editors, bankers, mot
orists and large users of trucks, as
well as officials of boards of trade,
chambers OF commerce, anu other Or
CARNATIONS interested in road and
street improvement have been invit-
ed to attend.
Each session of the congress, as
well as the show will be held at the
Coliseum and will be open to
the general public. The program now
being arranged, will cover every vi
tai Subject related to highways and
their use. The prepared papers and
discussions will deal with all points
Of view.
Everywhere among road-builders
the outlook for unprecedented activ-
ity growing out Of the delays that
were due to the heavy cost and the
scarcity of labor and materials dur
ing the war, is considered most prom
lsing, and optimism, as to the future
Of road building seems certain to pre-
vail at the congress.