The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-12-28
Farm-tO-Market-
CONTINUED from Page one)

the county remains vested with re-
sponsibility for the maintenance of
the route including the maintenance
of projects constructed with the aid
of federal funds.
The mileage of dedicated county
highway in Montana amounts to ap-
proximately 5000 miles.
Federal legislation covering the i'm
provement of farm-to-market mileage
during the postwar period makes
available to Montana the sum of 3d.
100000 if matched with state funds in
the amount of $7,000,000.
Thus the accomplishment possible
with the aid of the federal allotment
cannot exceed that which may be ac-
complished with the total sum of $751;
100000.
The average cost of a mile of sec
ondary or farm-to-market road includ-
ing bridges built to standards accept
able to the federal government will
amount to $4,000. Thus it will be-
come possible to improve but LOO
miles or les sthan miles of every
100 miles of road now included in the
county road systems.
The federal highway act contem-
plates cooperation with boards Of
county commissioners in the initial
designation of routes which in their
opinion should be included in the fed
eralaid secondary system and there
by become eligible for federal funds.
In fact before the Public Roads Ad-
ministration will consider mileage in
any particular county for inclusion in
the federal-aid secondary system, the
state must certify to the Public Roads
Administration that the board of coun-
ty commissioners subscribes to the |
recommendations advanced by the |
state
However, in recommending mileage
for inclusion in the federal-aid second
airy system, the board of county COM
missioners is limited to a pre-deter-
mined mileage in its particular county.
This is not an arbitrary mileage, but
rather mileage determined as a re-
suit of consideration of number of
factors established by the federal gov
eminent and applied with equal
weight in each and every county of
the state.
Nor is it to be understood that fed
eral approval of a route for inclusion |.
in the federal-aid secondary system
implies immediate construction of the /
mileage designated. Construction ac-
tivity is, of course, limited by funds
authorized by congress and matched
~ h. ,Aa+
under an established procedure that
assures an equitable allotment to each
county.
Naturally, the federal government
adheres to the policy of not approving
a statewide secondary system embrace
ing mileage greatly in excess of that
which can be constructed with funds
to become available within reason
able period of years. This practice is
sound inasmuch as it permits meeting
changed local conditions that may ex-
list at some later date.
For example, the state was directed
by the Public Roads Administration to
submit a secondary system of mile
age not exceeding that which could be
constructed within a reasonable pc
riod of time. The federal government
has approved 2,400 miles of that sys-
tenn or 400 miles less than the system
submitted by the state in cooperation
with the fifty-six board of county COM
/
The 400 eliminated miles have not 7
been definitely rejected but approval
deferred pending submission by the
state of additional data supporting the /
of the mileage for federal I
funds on the basis of requirements J
aid down by the federal government,
and with which all secondary mileage 4
must conform as a condition of fed I
eral approval.
However, deferred approval of the
400 miles will in no way retard the 1
road program. For as /
pointed out, federal funds authorized
by the congress to become available
Turing the three-year period immedi-
itely ahead, when matched with state 1
funds will accomplish new construc-
ion on the approved secondary sys-
EN- to the extent of LOO miles. And
again we should emphasize the cold /
fact that the 1,100-mile statewide pro- !!
gram possible of accomplishment with
he aid of federal secondary funsd
,hus far authorized by the congress
means the betterment of less than 2
niles of every 100 miles of road now J
included in the county road systems.
However, in the light of very fay- 1
'rable federal-state-county relationship
Underlying the development of the fed
ral-aid secondary system, all counties
re assured that he relatively small
appropriation for farm
O-market roads will be expended in
he best interest of each of the fifty !
tx counties. =.