Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-05-15
Information on the Good
Roads


struction as follows:
Federal aid has been an impor-
tant factor in the Improvement of
roads in West Virginia, as we'll as IN
all other states of the Union. 1t had
special Importance in this state, ow.
ing to the fact that the beginning of
the policy of Federal Aid conceded
with the Inauguration of the state
aid plan of highway building.
The Federal aid act was passed by
Congress in the summer Of 1916, and
the state aid act by the Yves Virgin
ia legislature at the 1917 session.
Funds were thus available from
three sources-the national treasury,
the state treasury, and the various
county treasures and made it pos
sible to build enough good roads to
demonstrate their value to the peo-
pie. This was one of the big factors
in bringing about the passage Of the
good roads amendment to the con-
stitution in 1920, under which an
extensive program Of modern road
construction is now being carried on.
Federal aid still continues, and the
considerable sums received annually
from this source constitutes well
come addition to the proceeds of STATE
bonds.
Roads ON which the national gov
eminent will furnish funds to assist
the states, are in two classes-pri-
mary and secondary, Primary high
ways are Interstate, while those
classed as secondary are inter-county
roads correlating with the primary
thoroughfares. The total mile in
any state ON which Federal aid may
be given, cannot exceed seven per-
cent of the total mileage of all pub
lie roads in that state. The primary
system must not exceed three seven
tbs of the total eligible for Federal
aid, and on this three seventies not
more than 60 percent of the Federal
funds available for any state may be
spent, except by agreement between
the State Road Commission and the
Secretary of Agriculture.
Federal road funds are apportion-
ed among the states agreeing to
match the amounts, as follows:
One third in the ratio which the
area of each state bears to the area
of all the states; one third in the ra-
ito which the population Of each
state bears to the population of all
the states; one third in the ratio
which the population of each state
bears to the population of all the
states; one third in the ratio which
the mileage of rural delivery and
star routes in all the states.
The Federal road system has been
carefully planned to give the maxi
mum of service to the greatest poss-
ible number. There are LII cities
in the United States Of 5000 or more
inhabitants, and 1,048 of these are
located on Federal routes. Of the
total population of the United States
90 per cent lives either on or within
ten miles of highways included in
the Federal system.
The Bureau of Public Roads is a
part of the Department of Agricul-
ture. For administrative purposes
the country is divided into 10 Dis
tricts, West Virginia is included il
cluded in District No. 10.
Federal engineers cooperate witt
the various state road commissions
in all construction work done witt
Federal aid. The initiative in obtain
ing Federal aid for any specified pro
| ject is taken by the state highway
then inspects the location and plans
and if satisfactory gives his APPROX
al He is present when bids are op
ened, inspects the work as it pro
ceeds, and gives final approval wher
it is completed.
Mr.. William Brewster is U. 5
Senior Highway Engineer in charge
for West Virginia. His headquar
tiers are in Charleston. Mr.. d. 7
Brown, U. S. Highway Engineer, il
assistant.
The Federal primary system il
this state comprises $50 miles, more
than one fourth of the state system
1t includes the Midland Trail and thu
Northwestern Turnpike extending
entirely across the state east ant
west. Routes No. 2 and A, extending
north and south across the state
Route No. Sc, extending from Graf
ton south through Taylor, Barbour
Randolph and Pocahontas counties
to the Virginia line, the Nationa