Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-07
IMPROVEMENT Of
NATION 8 ROADS
IS PROGR ESSING
At RAPID RATE
More Work Done During the
Last Year Than in Any
Similar Period in the His
tory of the Country
7,469 MILES HIGHWAY
PROJECTS COMPLETED
Policy Has Been Adopted
Looking to Eliminating
Dangerous Grade Cross
ingS to Avoid Accidents

Washington. Dec. G.---Greater
progress was made on the nation s
highways during the last year ,nal
in any similar period ID the his
tory Of the country and there u
now apparent q real pubic appre-
citation of the Importance ct main
tanning the roads that are OYtlt, de-
clared Thomas II. Mcdonald, chief
of the bureau of public ropds, IN
his annual report to the secretary
Of agriculture, made p thllc to-
night.
'Industriul and financial coudi-
tions were better during the year
said Mr.. Mcdonald, land as a con-
sequence remarkable progress mas
been made in highway construction
under control of the states ana
counties as we'll as under the JOINT
control Of the government and
states. Ten thousand miles nave
been added to the federal aid roads
alone and doubtless more than an
equal mileage has been construct
ed without federal assistance. More
significant. however, than the
progress in the physical work OF
road construction, or any otllet
accomplishment of the year, ere
two developments, which are not
Immediately apparent, and when
cannot be measured in miles ana
dollars and cents, but which prom
ise results for the future unequaled
by any developments of the quar-
ter century Of highway actlVl-
ties.
Federal Highway Act
"First of these is the passage OF
the federal highway act with its
plan for Il ronnected system OF
roads for the whole nation; the
second is the extraordinary activity
in economic and physical research
in connection with the financing
location. management and design
Of the highways. For more than
two decades, there had been ~
proeress slow but certain deVei-
opment Of road construction fron,
a casual activity in the hands ei
urskilled local officials, without
non or program, r'Ner than to
maintain an established minimum
facility of transportation. toward q
reasoned industry in the bands OF
state and national officials. sup
pIemented by intelligent local aid
the aim of which is to PROVIDE
complete and economical highway
transportation service throughoul
ne nation. In this development,
the adoption of the federal ald
highway system provided for py
the federal highway act ana tlle
significants researches Of the pasl
wear constitute the greatest for-
ward steps that have ever been
made"
Projects Completed
During the year, 7,469 miles OF
rnad proyccts We're competed ana
1873 miles were under construc,
tion .ghicu were estimated as 1c
per cent complete. Federal aio
earned by the states on competed
and uncompleted projects amount
ed to 94,560,1SJ, of which $loo,'
911,552 had actually been paid.
The roads brought to completloi
averaged over zoo miles for eaeh
state. Texas had the largest com
pleted mileage, 9SS. Texas also
received the largest payment OF
federal aid amounting to S5,sl D.
O46 and earned nearly S2,5oO'oot
more. -.
The increasing number of accl'
dents at highway grade crossings
has become a matter of grave con
cern. SAYS Mr.. Mcdonald, and has
led to the adoption of pollcS
looking to the elimination of sucf
dangerous crossings Wherever
practicable on federal aid nigh
ways.