Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-17
The HQskin Letter o. 's1 2s:s=
MORE MILLIONS FOR A
Washington, D. c.. July 14.-Withln
hrae Gears the limited States viii

WASHINGTON, D. c.. July 14.-Withln
three years the United States will
have a system Of highways superior to
mat of any other country in the worl"
This is assured by the new postoffice
appropriation bill. provisions OF which
include three items a~ggregating $lSO,-
000.OOO to be expended under the
ate-participation plan in the con
struction of high grade roads within
the period indicated. In addition TO
this. approximately S10,O00,O00 will be
devoted to building of roads in the ma
tional forests in % states.
These new authorizations are ex-
pected 10 result in the construction of
more than $4,000 miles Of the federal
aid roads. Previous appropriations
have provided for 10000 miles which
are completed, in course OF building
or projected and approved. which Will
make a grand total of 1000 miles. or
nearly 40 per cent of the 10000 miles
contemplated in the system OF roads
now being outlined mileage almost
as great as that of the first class rail-
roads of the country.
With the rapid increase in the use
of motor vehicles Of all kinds it is a
tax upon the imagination to estimate
/ just what this will mean by way of a
solution of the transportation problem
of the nation. 1t is conceivable. how
ever. that if this development con-
tinues the time will come when a rail
road strike will be anything but the
menace it is 10 regarded. Food and
fuel supplies Of the cities will not be
cut off. industry and par
alyzed. movement of mails tied up and
the farmer barred from his markets
hy q hrnoEJown IF roll fronSnnrfQtInn
if every state is criss-crossed with a
network of fine highways that make
the truck a real competitor of the
freight train.
No longer will there be such a thing
as rural isolation. The tendency to-
ward the congestion of the population
in large centers may be checked. The
back to the farm movement will be
given a real impetus. Life will be
made easier and more enjoyable for
many millions, and relief may be found
for strains and stresses in the eco
nomic adjustments of society that
have been growing more serious in re
cent years.
Wide Field for the Work
What might be done in this line of
work is apparent when it is stated
that there are at present approximate
ly two and one-half million miles of
public rural roads in the United States.
OF the total. less than ~ per cent, or
about 900 600 miles. are improved with
any sort of surfacing. while the mile
age of permanent. well-built roads of
the kind that is being constructed
where the government furnishes part
of the money seems almost negligible
by comparison.
The average cost of construction Of
the federal-aid roads has been S11.12O
per mile. The expense of the work
has decreased materially within the
last year and the new appropriation
bill reduces the maximum participation
on the part of the government from
$4,000 to S16,250 per mile for the
present fiscal year and $4,000 per
mile thereafter.
OF the $50. 600. 900 authorized. $50
000. 900 is available for the fiscal year
which began with this month. while
S65. 5000 and S75,OOO,0O0 respec-
lively. will be expended during each of
the two succeeding fiscal years. Pre-
vious federal appropriations for road
building have aggregated S3o0,OO0. 900,
of which about S2S7 100000 have been
! spent. To this the several states have
added expenditures of approximately
$3.50. 900. 900. making a grand total OF
S667. 800. 900 as the outlay to date for
modern highway.
The $4,000. 900 for the current year
has been apportioned to the various
| states as follows: Alabama, S1.035,-
GA: Arizona. 500, 1888: Arkansas,
1896. O95: California. S1,641 800: Colo
| RADIO, SS94. III: Connecticut, $500 500:
| Delaware, S243.7 $50: Florida. S591.217;
Georgia, S1.331 ,972; Idaho, S625.691;
Illinois. s., l64, 1871; Indiana. $780,
9O4: Iowa. 81, 401. 915: Kansas, ST.
401 ,521; Kentucky, S944. 1856; Louisi-
ana. S664.660; Maine. S463,440; Mary
land, S427,0S6; Massachusetts, $780,