38 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of all matters relating to construction and maintenance. This redi- 

 rection of the work has greatly increased the efficiency of the office in 

 the handling of Federal aid road projects and in maintaining close 

 relations with State highwaj^ departments. 



Probably the most significant result thus far of the operation of 

 the Federal Aid Eoad Act has been the enactment by a number of 

 State legislatures of effective road laws. Legislative action in some 

 States was necessary to meet the requirements of the Federal Act, 

 but many of the States have gone further and have recast their high- 

 way policies entirely. All the States have assented to the provisions 

 of the act — 42 by their legislatures and 6 by their Governors. Thirty- 

 three had a highway department within the meaning of the act upon 

 the date of its approval. The remaining 15 have since enacted 

 legislation creating highway departments which comply with the 

 terms of the law. The highway departments in 18 States have been 

 greatly strengthened, specific appropriations to meet the Federal 

 funds have been made by 10, and comprehensive maintenance legisla- 

 tion has been enacted in 9 States. Forty-two States now have satis- 

 factory maintenance laws. Nearly all the States have submitted 

 definite schemes or programs of work for the entire five-year period 

 covered by the act or for the greater portion of it. The formulation 

 of carefully prepared plans for the full period in advance of con- 

 struction tends to prevent wasteful and haphazard undertakings. 



Under the provisions of the act, 40 States have submitted 183 

 projects, involving a total of approximately 1,730 miles. Of this 

 number, 139, embracing 1,182 miles and calling for an estimated 

 expenditure, including Federal, State, and local funds, of $7,947,- 

 114.50, have been approved. These projects involve Federal funds 

 to the extent of $3,455,573.76, or 23.75 per cent of the total allotment, 

 $14,550,000, to the various States for the fiscal years 1917 and 1918. 

 Six projects, covering 40 miles, have been disapproved. Agreements 

 have been entered into or are in the course of preparation in the case 

 of 34 projects, aggregating 197.74 miles and involving $990,600.84 

 of Federal funds and a total of $2,225,944.74. 



The full effect of the Federal Aid Road Act can not be measured 

 by any comparison of funds expended in 1916 and made available 

 for 1917, as many of the legislatures did not meet until early in the 

 calendar year 1917. It is significant, however, that while the ex- 

 penditures of State funds in 1916 aggregated $40,969,000, it is esti- 



