398 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



and to replace the roads which had suffered to such a material extent 

 by the unforeseen traffic which had been forced upon them. The 

 necessity for extensive road improvement w^as impressed more forci- 

 bly upon the public mind by reason of the demonstrated inadequacy 

 of the system of railroad transportation and by the difficulties ex- 

 perienced when, in an endeavor to relieve the railroads, an attempt 

 was made to utilize in a large way the highways in some sections of 

 the country. 



That the public is generally supporting a greatly enlarged program 

 of highway construction is evidenced by the fact that up to July 1, 

 1919, bond issues aggregating $224,800,000 had been authorized and 

 approved by vote of the people. JPro vision has also been made in 

 other States for submitting to a vote during the calendar year addi- 

 tional State highway bond issues amounting to more than $314,000,- 

 000. Only one State road bond issue voted on during the year was 

 rejected. In addition to the sums which become available through 

 the sale of bonds, other State road funds have been provided from 

 legislative appropriations, various State road tax levies, and the pro- 

 ceeds of motor vehicle license fees. In addition to these generous 

 State road funds, counties and improvement districts are providing 

 largely through bond issues for very large amounts. From all sources 

 there are in sight funds amounting to considerably over $1,000,000,000 

 for highway construction, which will be made available more rapidly 

 than such sums can be expended efficiently and economically. The 

 test of the State highway departments and of the Federal bureau will 

 come in so administering the expenditure of these sums that the con- 

 fidence of the public will be justified. It is very apparent that the 

 whole highway program has passed beyond the propaganda stage, 

 and that there is now the greatest possible need for the highway or- 

 ganizations to approach the task of actual road building in a respon- 

 sible, sane spirit that will result in the production of roads rapidly 

 but without extravagance and without loss of faith on the part of the 

 taxpayers. 



STATUS OF FEDERAL AID ROAD WORK. 



Of the post road a])propriations made by the Congress there was 

 available during the fiscal year a total of $80,000,000, the same being 

 the sum of the appropriations for the fiscal years 1917, 1918, and 

 1919. From this there was deducted the 3 per cent allowed by law 

 for the administrative purposes and the remainder, or $77,60K),000, 

 was apportioned among the several States. Of this sum there was 

 paid to the States during the fiscal year for road construction work 

 a total of $2,702,247. At the close of the fiscal year 1918 there had 

 been paid to the States $425,445. So that the grand total of all pay- 

 ments to the States on June 30, 1919, was $3,127,693, which left to the 

 credit of the States an unexpended balance of $74,472,306. In addi- 

 tion, the $95,000,000 appropriated for the fiscal year 1920 was ap- 

 portioned to the States, after deducting the 3 per cent for adminis- 

 trative purposes, and that sum became available with the close of the 

 fiscal year. On July 1, 1919, therefore, there was available to the 

 credit of the States for expenditure a total of $166,622,306. 



During the fiscal year this department approved project statements 

 submitted by the States for 736 road projects, involving the improve- 



