Evening star., 1935-11-17


ports will be submitted at the conven-
ton and open discussions will bring
expressions from highway leaders In
every State.
Leading the District Of Columbia
representatives to the meeting will
be Capt. Herbert c. Whitehurst, Dis
trict highway director, and former
president of the A. r. 3. A.
Road show exhibit space reserva-
tions have made it necessary for the
association to take additional area.
There has been no road show for
three years and manufacturers OF
highway equipment have demonstrated
that they are eager to display their
products to the thousands Of highway
officials, engineers, superintendents
and contractors attending.
*
Americas billion-d dollar highway
program Is taking the lead in provid-
ing employment throughout the coun-
try, according to q statement made
by the association.
Many highway contractors are re-
porting that they are unable to OBJ
tain sufficient workers from the relief
rolls, especially In districts where the
Works Progress Administration is
launching its farm-to-market road
program. The w. P. A. road program
was drafted especially to absorb work.
ers from relief rolls, and 1t is operating
20 effectively in many sections that
contractors on the primary highway
t,,r "a ay,t
lists other than those supplied by re-
lief agencies.
Rules and regulations promulgated
by the Department Of Agriculture at
first required contractors on highway
projects financed in whole or in part
by emergency relief funds to employ
90 per cent Of their workers from the
relief rolls. These rules later were
amended 50 that workers may be taken
from other employment lists approved
by United States Employment Serv-
ice, provided relief workers are not
obtainable
Virginia was one Of the FIRST States
70 report that its highway construc-
ton program would more than ab-
rolls in the smaller cities and rural
communities. Alabama's highway pro-
gram likewise is reported to have
taken up practically all Of the slack
in employment where it is practicable
to transport workers TO the road
projects.
In a large number Of States-west
Virginia and Tennessee, for example
the Works Progress Administration
IS spending from 65 to 10 per cent
OF the money allotted to the States
on farm-to-market roads and on the
improvement Of municipal streets. The
w. P. A. already has approved farm
road projects for total Of more than
s200000,000 and street projects for
practically N equal amount.
n X
Highway and grade crossings were
allotted $400,000,000 from the emer-
gency relief funds OF 1885, the division
being equal for highways and grade
crossing elimination and protection.
+ order to qualify for this money,
most States merged their regular Fed
eral-aid funds with the emergency
relief funds. The United States Bu-
reau Of Public Roads has approved
highway projects in IL States and
grade-crossing projects in IS States.
Millions of dollars have been re-
leased by the controller general within
the last 10 days for farm-to-n1arket
road projects, and this type Of work
will be carried on by counties, and
In some instances States, without in
terruption through the Winter and
Spring. Cold weather will interfere
with work on roads in some sections
during the Winter, but auxiliary work,
such as operations at gravel pits, will
employ the farm road crews in these
sections until Spring makes it pos
sible for resumption of actual road
work. Where unfavorable weather
does not interfere the farm road pro-
gram will be carried on steadily as
long as funds are available.
President Roosevelt has approved O
program Of bridge construction work
on the route of the Inter-American
Highway in Central America, the
United States Bureau Of Public Roads,
In charge Of activities on the high
way. announces.
Congress. in June, 1884, appropri-
ated $l,000,000 Ito meet such ex-
penses as the President, in his dis
cretion, may deem necessary to en-
able the United States to cooperate
with the several governments, men,
bers Of the Pan-American Union, In
connection with survey and construc-
ton of the proposed Inter- American
Highway" As the initial activity un-
der this program, the Bureau of Pub
lie Roads has undertaken q program
involvinA construction Of several
bridges, the estimated expenditure be-
ing $34o, 600.
The bridges are as follows: Republic
OF Panama, bridge over the Chiriqui
River, approximately 900 feet long;
Honduras, bridge over the Choluteca
River, approximately 900 feet long;
Guatemala, bridge over the Tamazu-
lapa River, approximately 800 feet
long. Arrangements for construction
Of these bridges have been approved
by the three republics concerned.
Similar offers Of cooperation made
TO other interested governments are
still under consideration by appropri-
ate authorities Of the respective
countries.
Under present plans, the United
States will furnish surveys. plans,
specifications and estimates for the
bridges, all steel or other fabricated
material for the superstructure. me-
chanical equipment and transportation
of materials and equipment to the
site of the work. It also will con-
struct the superstructure, supervise
all construction and furnish all in
spection and supervision when needed
in connection with getting out ma
terials furnished by the other country.
The other country will furnish all
local materials and the labor and
transportation incident thereto, to-