BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. . 509 



owned lands on account of th(3 policy which now exists of improving 

 roads within the forest areas from Federal funds. 



Third. That the application of Federal-aid funds be made to those 

 highways which will expedite the completion of an adequate natioral 

 highway system. 



Fourth. That the Territories of Alavska and Hawaii shall be ad- 

 mitted to participation under the Federal-aid act in the construction 

 of post roads in those Territories. 



Fifth. That the appropriation for the building of roads in the 

 national forests shall be continued at the rate of $10,000,000 per year 

 for a period of 10 years. 



These principles having been developed through the experience 

 of the State and Federal highway departments in the administration 

 of the Federal aid road acts, it is believed that they are thoroughly 

 sound and should be made a part of future Federal legislation on 

 this subject. 



The present law allows cooperative funds to be provided by the 

 State or by subdivisions of the State, although the administration 

 of State funds is in all cases through the State highway depart- 

 ments. In general the policy of allowing the full amount of the 

 cooperative funds to be supplied through the local subdivisions is 

 not entirely satisfactory, and it is believed that more satisfactory 

 results will be obtained if cooperative funds are supplied in part 

 through State sources. When a large local program is contemplated 

 there is no reason why a portion of the coo{)erative funds should not 

 be supplied through local agencies, as this helps to distribute the 

 burdens of cost in those localities which receive the most immediate 

 benefit. It is beli(!ved, however, that without regard to the policy 

 which is followed in providing construction funds the maintenance 

 required under the Federal-aid act should be carried on only by the 

 State highway departments. It is already apparent that local 

 subdivisions can not be depended on for the constant, painstaking 

 maintenance that has become so highly necessary on our main 

 highways with the greatly increased number and weight of the 

 traffic units. It is believed, therefore, that any extension of the 

 Federal aid funds provided for in future Federal legislation, wliicii 

 requires that highways built with such funds be maintained by the 

 State authorities, should provide that the funds for such mainte- 

 nance must be administered by the State highway departments 

 exclusively. It is already apparent that, because of the present 

 economic conditions affecting the building of highways, progress 

 will not be as rapid for several years to come as could be desired. 

 It is very necessary, therefore, to maintain in service those high- 

 ways which, with careful maintenance, can be held up under present- 

 day traffic, as well as to provide the best maintenance possible for 

 the new highways which are constructed. The present plan of 

 allowing maintenance funds to be provided by localities will not 

 prove satisfactory in nniintaining the projects which are built through 

 the use of Federal aid, and this condition can be prevented if the 

 maint<>nanc(> funds are snpj^lied by the State and administered 

 through the State highway (h'partments. 



