Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-17
(By Frederick j. Haskin.)

Washington. D. c., July 14.-Within
three years the United States will
have a system of highways superior
to that Of n other country in the
world. This is. assured by the new
postoffice appropriation bill. proVi-
sions of-which include three items ag-
gregating $190,00O.O00 to be expended
under the state-participation plan in
the construction Of high-grade roads
within the period indicated. In addi-
ton to this. approximately 100000
900 will be devoted to: building. of
! roads in the national forests in -23
states.
These new authorizations are ex-
pected to result in the construction Of
more thar $4,000 miles OF the federal
aid roads. Previous appropriations
have provided for $4,000 miles which
are completed, in course of building
or projected and approved. which will
make a grand total of 1900 miles.
o. nearly 40 per cen of the 10000
miles contemplated in the system of
roads nov being outlined mileage
almost las great as that Of. the first
class railroads 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 prob
lem OF the nation. 1t is conceivable.
however, that if his development con-
tinues the time will or when a rail-
road strike will tbe anything but he
menace it is now regarded. Food and
fuel supplies, Of the cities will not be
cut off, industry and m par
alyzed, movement of malls tied up
and the farmer barred from his mar
kets by a breakdown of rail transpor-
| tation il 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
toward the congestion of the popula-
ton in large centers may be checked:
The back to the farm movement will
be given a. real impetus. Life will be
made easier and enjoyable for
many millions, and relief may be
found for strains and stresses in the
economic adjustments of society that
have been growing more serious in
recent years. 4
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
Ily two and one-half million miles Of
public rural roads in the United
States. OF this total less h IL per
cent. or about $4,000 miles, are i'm
proved with any sort of ~surfacing.
while the mileage OF permanent, we'll
constructed where the government
furnishes.p part of the money seems al
most negligible by comparison.
The average cost OF construction Of
the federal aid roads has been $17.-
100 per mile. The expense of the
work has decreased materially within
the last year and the new appropria-
ton bill reduces the maximum par-
ticipation on the part 81 the govern
mile for the present fiscal year and
S15, 900 per mile thereafter.
or the s$~l90,000,0e0 authorized
$4,000, 000tis available for the fiscal
year which began with this month.
while $4,000, 900 and $4,000, 900, re-
spectively, will be expended during
leach of the WI succeeding I fiscal
Years. Previous federal appropria-
tons for road-building have aggre-
$287,SoO, 900 have bean spent. To this
the several states have added expendi-
lures Of approximately $4,000, 900,
making a grand total of1SS67, 500 zoo
az the outlay todate for modern high
ways.
year hays been apportioned to the
Various states ~ follows: Alabama.
t1os5:sl4: Arizona. $7t2,1ss. Arkan-
Colorado. $344,117: Connscticut,
its2o.sSs: Delaware. S24s, 80: Florida,
i45SI2l7; Georgia, $~l.s11,sJ2; Idaho,
I&Szs. eSl: Illinois. $2.It4.1g1; indiana,
81. S06,904;I lows, $~1.4e1.A1B; Kansas,
lS1,40i, 521: Kentucky, s9<4,7St;