Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-25
ROAD MEETING
PLANNED To URGE
FUND COOPERATION
Need For Money to Match Aid
From u. S. Government
Is Pointed Out.
Special to The Tribune.

to The Tribune.
Missoula, Sept. 24.-W. j. Dennis
of Carlton. Ore, author of most OF the
good roads legislation enacted by Ore
gon, will address a statewide sood
roads meeting in Missoula Saturday
night, October IA, under the auspices
of the Missoula Chamber of Commerce.
The need for state funds with when TO
match federal funds for road building
in Montana at this time Is
considered crucial. 1t is believed by
good roads men that II the facts re-
garding the danger of Montana losing
a big portion of its allotment OF tederal
funds are brought forclbiy to tne at
tention of the business men OF the
state, some plan will be developed to
remedy the situation. Dennis will rep
resent the Portland Chamber OF Com
merce and will explain how Oregon mas
worked out her splendid highway sys-
TEN. To gain a representative Mon
tana audience for this meeting INVITA-
tons are being sent all over the state;
If Montana cannot match federal
funds for roads, she stands to lose ap-
proximately 81 900 on July 1, 1923.
Would Go to Other States
These federal aid funds will then be
reapportioned to other states, and Will
be forever lost to Montana.
The original federal aid act provided
for a maximum of so per cent federal
co-operation. Under the new law thu
cooperation is increased in proportion
to the percentage of public land IN the
| state to the total area of the state
In Montana the maximum federal CO.
operation is now 53.04 per cent OF the
cost of the project, a limit of fedora
participation being fixed fixed at 53.O4
per cent of $4,000 per mile.
There has been paid to Montana for
projects completed or under construc,-
ton, more than $4,397 900. Federal
aid activities have been carried on IN
~ of Montana's "a counties. including
the construction of 10 bridges, l9e
miles earth road, 567 miles gravel road
6.5 miles bituminous macadam road and
% miles of concrete road.
In the Treasure state 400 miles OF
her 67.100 miles of road are entitled tC
federal aid-2,OOO miles Of interstate
highways and 200 miles of intercounty
highways. The federal highway act
also provides that the government may
NAV pay the entire cost of improving
roads through Indian reservations
which are either interstate or inter
county in character. The system i:
designated by the state highway com
mission and approved by the secretary
| of agriculture. A comprehensive net
work of highways has bee nevolved
which, with one exception, connects al
county seats in Montana.
Raised by Communities
In Montana at present the loca
funds for these projects are raised b!
the counties either by direct tax or D!
bonds. and the state highway commits
sion represents them IN all deallng'
with the secretary of agriculture. Thl
method of providing state funds t.
match federal funds, however, canno
longer be utilized.
All federal allotments to the state'
are contingent upon their use prlor u
the end of the second fiscal year TO
which the appropriation is made. IL
the event that a state fails TO make us
of any portion of its allotment, IT /
then reapportioned TO the other state
on the same basis as the original ap
~portionment was made.
OF the allotment to Montana. whicl
lIapses and will be subject to reappor
tionment on July l. 1923. there is a.
unexpended balance of approximatel
81 900, 900.
Other states are successfully han
ding this problem of federal aid, an
ding this problem of federal aid, an
the expansion of their highway sys