BUREAU OF PUBLIC KOADS. 375 



highway work diirmg the period of the war, but to enable really 

 essential highway work to proceed. Evidence of this existed in the 

 fact that the Capital Issues Committee passed upon highway bond 

 issues; the Railroad Administration controlled cars which were re- 

 quired in the transportation of highway materials; the War Indus- 

 tries Board had power to control essential highway materials, such 

 as steel, cement, brick, crushed stone, etc. ; the Fuel Adniinistration 

 exercised control over bituminous materials, such as oil, asphalt, 

 and tars; the Department of Agriculture exercised the direct powers 

 of the Government with reference to highways under the terms of 

 the Federal aid road act, and the appropriations for the Office of 

 Public Roads and Rural Engineering; the War Department was 

 directly interested in highways which serve military purposes, such 

 as Army truck routes, etc. Any highway project which required 

 several of the facilities controlled by these various Government 

 agencies was compelled, therefore, to be subjected to the delay and 

 hazard of securing approval separately from each Government 

 organization. 



As an outcome of careful consideration, the Secretary of Agricul- 

 ture requested the Secretary of War, the Director General of Rail- 

 roads, the chairman of the War Industries Board, and the fuel 

 administrator each to name a representative to serve with the 

 Director of the Office of Public Roads on a council to coordinate 

 these activities. In accordance with the Secretary's suggestion, the 

 United States Highways Council was formed and held its first ses- 

 sion on June 8, 1918. An immense amount of regulr.tory work has 

 been done by the council since its organization. 



The Director and the Chief of Management of the Office of Public 

 Roads and Rural Engineering served respectively as chairman and 

 secretarj^ of the council. The office provided engineering and cleri- 

 cal assistance to the council as well as office room, necessary station- 

 ery, and printing. Engineers of the office made inspections of 

 projects on which the council desired information. 



FEDERAL AID ROAD ACT. 



Notwithstanding the adverse conditions incident to the war, work 

 under the Federal aid road act progressed well during the fiscal 

 year. Efforts were made, in cooperation with the several State 

 highway departments, to restrict construction work to such projects 

 as would prove of greatest importance, serve the greatest economic 

 or military use, and contribute, either directly or indirectly, to the 

 success of the Government's war program. 



During the fiscal year the legislative assent required by section 1 

 of the Federal aid road act was given by the legislatures of all 

 States for which such assent had not already been given, except tJke 

 State of Alabama. The Alabama legislature meets only quadren- 

 nially, and its next regular session will convene in January, 1919. 

 It is expected that at that time the necessary'- legislative assent will 

 be given for that State. However, the governor of Alabama 

 assented on behalf of the State, as authorized by the. act, so that 

 cooperation with the State has not been affected aclverselj''. 



With a view to meeting unusual conditions that arose it was found 

 desirable to amend the rules and regulations which were issued Sep- 



