Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-03-23
Better Farm Travel Promised in Huge
Federal-State Postwar Road Program

want as much mileage surfaced as
possible from the funds available at
costs running from approximately
So, 500 to $4,000 per mile. Interme-
diate types of surfacing would run
upward to approximately $4,000 per
mile with the higher type pave
ments costing upwards of $4,000
per mile.
State Funds Available.
Due to the fact that there has been
little road building during the war,
state highway construction funds
have swelled into fantastic proper
tons despite the fact that reve-
nues from automobile licenses and
gasoline taxes have been reduced
due to curtailment in auto travel.
The Public Roads administration
estimates that unexpended balances
in state road funds by the end of
this year will total around $418, 0O0,-
900. To this will be added current
receipts from levies upon the auto
owner so that the PRA estimates the
states will have approximately
$475, 100000 to $500, 10000 available
for new highway construction. If
they match the authorized appropri-
alton as set up in the new federal
aid highway act their total must
reach at least $500, 100000 annually.
Of the federal funds, $1OO, OO0, 900
is already available for surveys,
Plans and construction, but the
remainder of the program must wait
until the first postwar fiscal year
which ends June 80 following proc
lamation by the President of the end
of the existing emergency, or a
concurrent resolution by the Con-
greSs that emergency has been suf-
ficiently eased to permit high
way work.
1t is pointed out that there have
been federal aid appropriations for
secondary and feeder roads in the
past, but unfortunately there has
never been full and complete ad-
vantage taken of the money appro-
priated, and, as result, in num-
Der of states the intent of the ap-
preparation has not been fully
realized. For this reason, federal Of
ficials along with those interested in
road construction, both public and in
private industry stress the impor-
lance of close cooperation between
local and state officials in selecting
a secondary road system which will
qualify with the PRA, care being ex-
ercised not include roads of minor
Importance.
Some important features of the
1914 act include costs of rights-of-
way in construction costs provided
the federal share shall not exceed
one-third; 10 per cent of total
authorization may be used I'M
matched by the states for elimina-
ton of hazards in highway rail
grade crossings with the govern
ment paying 80 per cent and the rail-
roads 10 per cent of the cost; IL
per cent of the total authorization
may be used for long-range high
way plans.
Federal Share.
According to officials of the
American Association of State High
way officials, the states feel that
the federal government has an obi
cation in making these grants for
use by the states in highway con-
struction. They also feel that the
federal government should pay
higher percentage of the costs than
the "50-50" basis which is now and
has been in effect.
Samuel C. Hadden of Indiana,
president of the American associ-
alton, pointed this out in his testi-
mony before the house committee.
He said that in 1912, for instance,
the federal government collected
taxes on motor vehicles and parts
and on motor fuels in excess of
$677 100000, while in the same year
it returned to the states in the
form of federal highway aid less
than one-fourth of that amount.
For some years." Mr.. Hadden
said, sit has been the declared
policy of the federal government
that the state governments should
not practice diversion of motor We
hicle tax revenues from highway to
other purposes.
This disparity between precept
and example has not escaped the at
tention of our citizens generally, or
of our state and local public officials.
Frankly, it is the belief of the great
majority of our citizens that the fed
eral government should take its
own prescription in this matter,
especially since the precept is con-
sidered sound and the example un-
sound"
AS a matter of fact, IA states
have within recent years amended
their constitutions to prohibit diver
sion of taxes collected from gaso-
line and automobile licenses to other
than highway construction and
maintenance.
At any rate, if local and state Of
fcials cooperate properly there is a
good chance that during the three
years following the war several