36 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



made some important amendments to the act. The definition 

 of the kind of roads that can be constructed was greatly broadened 

 and the limitation on the Federal contribution for any one road 

 was increased from $10,000 to $20,000 a mile. These amendments 

 have greatly facilitated consideration of and action upon the road 

 projects submitted by the State highway commissions. There is now 

 no special obstacle to the construction, in the different States of the 

 Union, of the roads which serve the greatest economic needs. 



TROUBLESOME LIMITATIONS REMOVED. 



The act, as amended, places only three limitations on the type of 

 road which may be built, as follows: 



(1) That the roads shall be "substantial in character." This 

 means that the road must be so constructed that it will carry the 

 prospective traffic with such maintenance expenses that the total 

 annual charges will represent a reasonable expenditure for the public 

 service rendered by the highway. It is to the interest of the States 

 that the roads on which Federal funds are used be substantially con- 

 structed, because the law requires them, or their civil subdivisions, 

 as a prerequisite to receiving further funds, to maintain properly 

 all roads built with Federal aid. There is nothing in the law which 

 restricts types of construction between narrower limits than those 

 established by sound finance and good engineering practice. 



(2) That the amount contributed from the Federal Treasury in 

 connection with any road shall not exceed 50 per cent of its cost or 

 $20,000 a mile. The main thing is to build a road that will stand 

 the traffic in the particular section of the country where it is con- 

 structed. The conditions in certain regions may require a heavy, 

 comparatively high-cost type of road, while in others a lower cost 

 type may meet all the requirements. Sentiment is growing through- 

 out the country, even in the newer sections, in favor of more sub- 

 stantial roads. The people are beginning to realize that the ex- 

 pense of maintaining the lighter traffic types under heavy traffic 

 is unbearable. 



(3) That the road must be a " rural post road" as defined in the 

 act as amended; that is, "any public road a major portion of which 

 is now used, or can be used, or forms a connecting link not to ex- 

 ceed 10 miles in length of any road or roads now or hereafter used 



