Arizona republican., 1922-04-18

trolled by the United States depart
nent of agriculture and has charge
of all work connected with the dis
tribution of federal aid among the
highway programs Of the various
states and the building of good roads
in government forest reserves.
Although the bureau has been go
ing ahead since April g. with the
work of directing operations from
Phoenix. the complete. establishment
has not yet been moved from Albu-
Querque. Preparations are now be-
ing made TO move 100000 worth of
equipment to this city. Repair shops,
stores, rolling stock and road ma
equipment of the state, highway de-
in the near future.
The duties of the bureau of public
roads falls into two divisions. The
construction and maintenance of
roads within the boundaries of the
national forest reserves is solely in
charge of this organization which
likewise furnishes all the money for
this purpose from government appro-
pIiations.
The second purpose of the bureau
is to make physical examination of
state highway plans for the purpose
of recommending them to the federal
government as eligible to receive
government aid. Engineers of the
bureau supervise the construction of
these highways and give their final
approval to the completed work.
Within the next three weeks the
bureau will start making survey for
$50 miles of roads divided among
eight projects lying within the boun-
daries of government forest reserves
in New Mexico and Arizona. This
work will be done under the per
cent highway system through which
federal aid is first extended to 1900
miles of roads lying within forest re-
serves in Arizona and New Mexico.
Work on the eight projects win be
carried on with a fund of $l,2OO,00O,
which has been appropriated by the
Legislature for this purpose. This
amount has been allotted the bureau
to be used until June so. 1928 A
bin is now before congress asking
that this appropriation be continued
along with the present arrangement
for financing the bureau.
All highways lying outside the
boundaries of government forest re-
serves must be built by the states
themselves with federal aid wherever
If is found to be warranted. When
the state prepares plans that are ac-
ceptable to the government and eli
gible to receive federal - the gov
ernmeilt shares the bulk of the eN-
pense of constructing the roads. The
state furnishes SO per cent ofsthe cost
and the government furnishes 81 per
cent.
Although the percentage ratio be-
tween the state and federal govern
ment is nonlinally $3.50, the federal
supplies the larger part
of the money for highway construc-
tion in Arizona and New Mexico, due
to the fact that the forest reserves,
although within the boundaries Of the
states, do not bring any revenue to
the states. hence the expense OF road
building there is borne by the federal
alone.
The headquarters OF the bureau OF
public roads in Phoenix is now only
located at 325 West
street. The office will
later be moved to some permanent
place down town. The office con-
tains the clerical force, drafting
room and maps. Thirty engineers
and clerks are now employed by the
bureau but when the CONSTRUCTION
sea son get going the force will be
to about rs men.
Regional headquarters of the bu-
reau, having charge of the five dis
tricts of the western states, is in San
Francisco under the supervision OF
Deputy Chief Engineer L. /. Hewes.
the work was directed en-
tirely from Washington, but it was
found to be more efficient to estab-
lish regional headquarters.
The removal of the Arizona New
Mexico district headquarters from
Albuquerque to Phoenix was found
to be an economic necessity after the
of the bureaus by re-
gionaI divisions. With the bureau
organized as il now is the railroads