The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1921-05-12
Idaho and Government Highway
Aid.


system of national highways, ani
one was actually started 1t die
not get very far for the railroads
came along at that time and al
funds were diverted to this new
transportation system. 1t was ths
universal impression that no more
highways would be needed. Tho
railroads would do all the haul
!. ing. The states stopped their
! road work and We'd with the fed
! eral government and their own
cities and counties in issuing
j bonds to build railroads. 1t was
a promoters paradise.
/ Some of these railroads were
Legitimate business enterprises,
but more were schemes that
make the gold brick game look
like respectable business enter
prise. The south is cross section
ed with railroad embankments,
built to help carry some bond is
sue and then abandoned when
the "Get Rich Quick Walling-
ford" received his money One
enterprising genius signed con-
tract with certain state calling
for. so much money to be paid
him on the completion of each
mile of railroad. He laid his
rails, collected his bonus, pulled
up the rails and laid them on the
next mile and once more collec-
ted his bonus, pulled up the rails
and laid them on the next mile
and once more collected. As
there was nothing in the contract
to show what was to be done with
these rails after they had been
laid he probably would be work
ing his graft yet if they had not
bought him off with a substan-l
tial payment
Not until 1892 did the states
resume their highway work.
Shortly after; the United States
was requested to take hand in
the game. Tht bureau of public
roads was created, but it receiv-
ed such niggardly appropriations
that its usefulness was restricted
for number of years Finally,
in 1916, with the lesson of YER
dun before it, congress passed the
first federal aid law The appro-
priation was allotted to all thcI
states in the following ratios:
First-one-third in the ratio
which the area of each state
bears to the total area of all thel
states.
Second One-third in the ratio
which the population of each
state bears to the total popula-
tion of all the states, as shown by
the last available federal census.
Third-One-third in the ratio
which the mileage of rural deliv-
cry routes and star routes in each
state bears to the total mileage
of such routes in all the states at
the close of the preceding year.
Idaho received an allotment OF
So, 1850, 1886 and Wyoming rel
ceived about the same amount.
Connecticut, Delaware, Florida,
Maine, Maryland, New Hamp-
shire, New Jersey, Rhode Island,
Utah, Vermont and West Virgin
ia each received a smaller amount
of federal aid than Idaho. All
other states received more.
The largest amount of federal
aid went to Texas. The Lone
Star state, an empire in itself, re-
seived approximately $4,000, 900.
Delaware occupies the unenviable
position at the other end of the
list. She receives less than half a
million.
The chart indicates the status
,f federal funds on Feb. %, 1921. y
Idaho is shown with approved
project statements for $3,000,0O0l
and the balance of the fund has
,een approved since the chart
was compiled. Project agree
nents, which are never executed
lntil the contract for construc-
ion has been awarded, have
,een signed for $2,800,000. Idaho
las carried her work along fas-
er than most of the states and
las received in actual cash over {
Il 600, 900. Kentucky, louisiana, 8
Maryland and Virginia have re- I
,eived about the same amounts.
Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut,
Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Mas
achusetts, Maine, Mississippi, q
Iissouri, Nevada, New Hamp- '
hire, New Jersey, New Mexico, 4
Jew York, North Dakota, Okla Q
oma, Rhode Island, South caro- o
ina, South Dakota, Tennessee, \
Jtah and Vermont have received \
sss than Idaho. Only 20 states e
ave received more at this time. h
The present federal aid funds !
ill be exhausted in June, 1921. i
congress must appropriate more