Arizona republican., 1921-11-10
Federal Aid Roads
 Bill Is Signed By
 President Harding

The cheering news was received yesterday that President Harding had signed the federal aid roads hin which has been before congress for a long time and which, after passing both houses in different forms and going to conference, was reported out on Oct. S1. The bill, which now has become law, embraces various fea- lures of the McArthur. Sells, Dowell, Phipps, Townsend and Robison bills.
 It is to be said that of all the members of congress who took part in the deliberations leading to the bill agreed upon in conference there was none who worked harder for it or had a clearer grasp of it than Representa- tive Hayden, whose speech on it on Nov. was one of the ablest that had been offered.
 Only two of the major recommen- dations of the American highway of ficials were rejected in the bill in it's final shape. But one of these was the important one that the Western states should be given credit, not only for unappropriated public lands with in their borders. but for all reserva- tons under federal control.
 The main features of the bill are: To have the federal aid law admins tered by the department of agricul- ture under the bureau of public roads, instead of by commission.
 The initiative in locating roads to receive federal aid shall remain in the states subject to the approval of the department of agriculture.
 The several state highway depart ments. with the approval of the de- partment of agriculture, shall lay out a system of roads Interstate and in fU in, nh ha t.lc ct at- int state alone.
 The funds from the several states put up to match federal aid, from whatever source derived, shall be sub ject to the direct control of the high way department of the several states.
 The several states shall maintain and keep in good repair at all times all highways constructed with federal aid. A penalty is provided for failure to put in proper shape after 90 days notice from the department of agri- culture.
 In all states having more than per cent of it's area in unappropriated public lands, greater participation in federal aid is allowed in proportion to the amount of such unappropriated public lands.
 No state shall receive less than 1 one-half of l per cent of the funds available for the construction of high | ways.
 Special provisions are made to take l care of roads and trails within, ad- | jacent to and serving forest reserva- | tions under federal control. 1 The time given each state to matcf and take up the federal aid allotted | has been extended for a period of onC | year, making the time two years. Three years from and after the l passage of the act Is given thos' l states whose laws or constitution vii not permit the states to provide rev | enues for construction, reconstruction or maintenance of highways tt change their constitution or laws t meet the requirements of the act.
 State Engineer Maddock last night speaking of the act, said that of th' $75, 1000, 900 appropriated, Arizonai share would be about $1,050,0o0, pos l sibly a little more than that on ac
 count of the increase of the facto of population. The chief advantaS
 to the state, he said, would be tha 25 per cent of the allotment of Ari
 zona would be immediately availabl
 and the balance on Jan. or mex
 year. That means in effect that tn
 total allotment will be availabl
 when it is required.
 It is not so much that Arizona VII
 receive more under this act thal
 under previous legislation, but tn
 state will be able to match more led
 eral aid with less money. As to Mari ccpa county, it will be made possibl to construct a road from the Giles
 pie dam to Gila Bend and to match
 part of the bond issue of Yuma coun ty for the construction of a hlghwa toward the Maricopa boundary. In the opinion of MT. Maddock, tn rehabilitation of the Apache Trail
 brought within the realm of prob ability, as well as the establishment of better highway communicate with Yavapai county.