Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1922-02-08
Nevada State Highway News

Nevada State Highway News
On about January 10, this Department sub
mitted to the Board OF County Commissioners OF
each county tentative outline OF the proposed
state highway construction program to be under
taken i'll that county during the OF 1922.
The ratio of cooperation betewen the State and
county which has heretofore been i'll effect has been
the basis OF 5Oper ceat Fede.aGovernmcnt,
Is per cent County and Is per cent State When
the Department first began operations under the
Federal Aid Law we believed that this ratio would
work out successfully. However, three wears ex-
pcriencc has demonstrated the iallacy OF so per
cent Federal Md business for the past three
years giving All average federal participation Of
approximately 3 per cent. and the average county
participation stands at Is per cent. Several things
have contributed in causing this result, among
which may be mentioned that the State has entirely
borne the costs OF preliminary surveys plans and
rights OF way. the heavy maintenance costs. the
construction OF the I.alontan Gravel Plant and
has carried heavy investment iii surplus war
material received from the Federal Government.
The result OF this is that the OF the State
have become limited and theuure burden to be
borne by the State in participation with the counties
must be in accordance with the restricted income
The State. of course. has first carried the entire
burden it paid out all moneys, then collected
from the Government and counties.
When the present Federal Highway Law was
first introduced in Congress it contained a provi
sion that the Federal Government would share in
not only the actual construction costs but also
the full costs of surveys and plans and the bill
passed the Senate in this form. This would have
left the State and counties to bear the overhead
burden and their relatively small ratio OF con
struction and preliminary costs The law fina,
passed. however. provides government participation
in only the actual construction costs. leaving the
overhead and preliminary expenses to be borne b,
the State and counties. The burden which ha
been borne entirely by the State i'll the past is toe
heavy, and we find we i,i"st call on the counties
to assume some OF this burden Therefore, aite,
a very careful consideration OF all available data
have worked Oh, uniform scheme OF co-opera-
tion which, we believe. will work in such an equi
table manner to not unduly burden either the
State counties and will, at the same time permit
the Department to carry through, splendid pro
gram each year well within the OF all con
cerned
Our experience through the past four years has
demonstrated that the cost OF the initial work o.
the contract, such reconnaissance, surveys pre-
paration OF plans and estimates and general super
vision in addition to the contract has had an aver
age cost OF IL Il per cent OF the contract price.
therefore have found it necessary to add II IL
per cent to the contract price which resulting
amount represents the entire cost of the project
OF this entire cost the State and Government will
bear so per cent leaving 20 per cent to be borne by
the counties
1t is true the Government is participating to the
proportion OF 22 II per cent in the contract price
but when this is prorated against the total cost Of
he he for The
state and government share of the total cost
Under this plan of cooperation we will be able to
carry through an annual program of between one
and half and two million dollars, permitting worl
IN practically all counties and the rapid improve
rnent of the worst sections OF the State Highway
System.