The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-03
BUILDING NEW HIGHWAYS.

/ Iufe, Is prepared TO 90 every LHlItS pOS-
sible to expedite federal aid road
building projects that can provide
work. that will shorten the winter sea-
son of inactivity in road building in
the northern states. Projects will be
approved without delay for the build
| ing of roads which the states and the
district engineers of the department
agree will come within the federal-aid
program.
There is available at the present
time an unexpended balance from the
old federal-aid appropriation of $685.
7o2, 900 in federal aid funds yet to be
apportioned among the states. In adj
dition, under the law passed Novem-
Der last, the sum of $24,375 becomes
available at once and there also be-
came available January /, $4S,75O,O 900
a total of $126,S2T0oo.
In approving projects under the re-
cent law the department viii keep up
permost in mind the provision of the
1921 law which states that the secre-
tary of agriculture shall give prefer
ence to such projects as will expedite
the completion of an adequate and
connected system of highways, inter
state in character" At the same time
the Importance of local traffic will not
be minimized. To care for that class
of traffic will always be, in general
the first objective of highway im-
provement. Wherever possible choice
OF highway will be made which, re-
gardless of the order of Improvement,
viii eventually join into well-con-
ceived network, crossing both county
and state boundaries. Thus while the
immediate needs of a state or district
may determine priority of construction
each new link win bring nearer the
completion of the system as q whole.
Each district engineer of the de-
partment is fully informed as to the
procedure for interim projects which
is so simplified that if important pro-
jects are chosen in good faith there
win be no delay in obtaining approval
for them.
Winter plans for the coming road
building season are under preliminary
consideration. In the western states
the major lines of highways will be
fixed largely by topography. In many
instances long routes will be deter
mined by single strategic points, such
as a mountain pass. Because of this
necessity, the department is DESTROYS
of having the states effected reach
a agreement as to their plans which will
be based on the future s rvice that is
to be rendered, not only to the local
but also to the interstate and national
traffic.
sD1,T -
the eastern states, some of which al
ready have large mileage of int
proved roads. 1t will be a compare
lively short time, because of new con-
struction and better maintenance, uh-
til the transcontinental tourist will be
provided with roads that are entirely
serviceable throughout the seasons of
the year when other conditions favor
such traffic.
The really serious traffic problems.
lie around and between large centers
OF population. Rapid multiplication in
the numbers of automobiles and motor
trucks-the number in 1921 being IS
times what it was in 19t0--have ac-
centuated the seriousness of the prob
lem. For roads built previous to the
advent of the dense motor traffic,
alignments, widths, and types We're
planned for use of the slower, lighter
horse drawn vehicles. Traffic lines
are from town to town and generally
follow the most congested parts of
population centers. Some of the prin-
ciples which confront the department
and the states for consideration in
planning a nationwide and connected
SYSTEM of highways include the fol-
lowing:
The DEVELOPMENT Of parallel lines
to divide heavy traffic through thick
ly populated districts.
The development of direct, short
mileage routes, although on these
routes there may. be at this time a
less amount of improved roads than
on route followed at present.
The building Of inner or outer belt |
lines around congested centers.
The reconstruction of weak sections |
TO accommodate heavy truck traffic. |
The widening of main routes near |
the largest cities Or between cities |
where the distance is short enough to
carry uniform Traffic.
14pptI CbllBNtLAc4AS Will liAG 4uulCS /
of adjoining states.
To insure maintenance of the roads |
when built, the strongest possible re-
quirements have been written into the |
law. "'-The term maintenance" the |
law states, means the constant max
ing of needed repairs TO preserve a |
smooth surfaced highway"
The department hopes that it win |
not be required to take over a single |
mile of highway for maintenance. |
That is the function Of the state, once |
the road is built with the aid of fed |
eral funds. But the responsibility for |
maintenance is imposed by the law /
upon the department and this provis- |
ion of the law will be enforced to the I
letter.
rhe department will not consider /
that the states are living up to the I
maintainence requirements OF the act /
until they establish a system of patrol |