The Washington herald., 1922-06-25
FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR ROAD BUILDING TO 1925 AR

the States and will be administered
subject to the general provisions
already in force.
The new legislation reduces the
maximum participation on the part
of the government from 100000 to
s16,250 per mile for roads con-
structed with. the appropriation for
the next fiscal year and $4,000 per
mile thereafter. Bridges over 90
feet in span may be considered as
separate projects to which this linn
itation does not apply. In States
where more than 5 per cent of the
area is unappropriated public land
provision is made for an increase
in the amount per mile. The act
also provides for the extension Of
Federal aid to the construction of
structures required for the elimi-
nation of railroad grade crossings.
Important provisions of previous
acts under which large funds have
been successfully administered are
applicable to the new funds. States
must maintain adequate highway
departments. Funds to match Fed
.eral aid must be placed under q
direct control of the State high
department. The type of surface
constructed must be adequate for
the traffic anticipated. with reason
able grades. curves, and other feat
ures States must obligate them
selves to maintain all Federal-aid
roads constructed. and in case this
is not done any Federal funds
available for new projects may be
withheld until they are put into
satisfactory condition. All Federal
aid funds must be spent on a con-
nected system of roads consistin
of not more than per cent of the
total mileage in each State and di-
vided into primary or Interstate
roads and secondary or intercounty
roads.
Plans Of States.
Plans for the proposed system
have been received by the Bureau
of Public Roads from all but eight
States. and the State systems are
being co-Ordinated so that when
Joined together they win serve the
best interests of the whole coun-
try. In the meantime only projects
certain to he on the proposed sys-
tenn are being approved
The new appropriation comes at
time when several states are
nearing the limit of funds available.
The authorization of funds for three
years in advance will be of great
benefit to all States in that 1t will
permit them to Law their plans for
some time ahead. Uncertainty as to
future Federal aid is removed and
provision can be made at once for
raising State funds to match it,
What the new funds will mean to
the country can be judged by the
use that has been made of the $780,
100000 previously appropriated, On
May 81. 1900 miles of road had
been completed. and. in addition
nearly 14.50O miles were under con-
struction. Federal-aid roads in all
stages total nearly 3S.7OO miles. in
volving over s2S7.5OO. 900 of Federal
aid. To match this fund, the States
have appropriated approximately
1886. .O0O. 900. making a total of s667.-
500. 900.
All types of road have been con-
structed with Federal aid to meet
the varying conditions in the United
States. The average cost per mile
has been s17.120. and Federal aid
has amounted to 43 per cent of the
total cost.
1t is estimated that the s190.o0n-
900 lately authorized will result in
the construction OF more than as
900 miles. which added to the $4,000
miles that is expected to result
from previous appropriations makes
a total of 1000 miles. or nearly 40
per cent of the estimated 1s0,0 900
miles of road in the system of Fed
eral-aid roads now being outlined.