ESTABLISHMENT OP DEPARTMENT. 15 



A provision authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to make such 

 investigations and disseminate the results was contained in the similar 

 appropriation act for the fiscal year 1911. and provisions for the con- 

 tinuance of the work, in the same words as in the provision above set 

 forth, were also contained in the similar act for the fiscal year 1912. 



ACT AUGUST 24, 1912, c. 389. (37 Stat. 539.) 



Appropriation, to be expended by Secretary of Agriculture in cooperation with 

 Postmaster General, for improvement of roads for ascertaining benefits to 

 Rural Delivery Service and transportation of products; report and recom- 

 mendations to Congress. 



* * * That there is hereby appropriated the sum of five hun- 

 dred thousand dollars, out of any money in the Treasury not other- 

 wise appropriated, to be expended by the Secretary of Agriculture in 

 cooperation with the Postmaster General in improving the conditions 

 of roads to be selected by them over which rural delivery is or may 

 hereafter be established, such improvement to be for the purpose of 

 ascertaining the increase in the territory which could be served by 

 each carrier as a result of such improvement, the possible increase 

 of the number of delivery days in each year, the amount required 

 in excess of local expenditures for the proper maintenance of such 

 roads, and the relative saving to the Government in the operation 

 of the Rural Delivery Service, and to the local inhabitants in the 

 transportation of their products by reason of such improvement and 

 report the results in detail to Congress: Provided^ That the State or 

 the local subdivision thereof in which such improvement is made 

 under this provision shall furnish double the amount of money for 

 the improvement of the road or roads so selected. Such improvement 

 shall be made under the supervision of the Secretary of Agriculture. 



That the Secretary of Agriculture and the Postmaster General are 

 hereby directed to report to Congress widiin one year after the 

 ratification of this Act the result of their operations under this Act, 

 the number of miles of road improved, the cost of same, and such 

 other information as they may have acquired in connection with 

 the operation of this Act, together with such recommendations as 

 shall seem wise for providing a general plan of national aid for the 

 improvement of postal roads in cooperation with the States and 

 counties, and to bring about as near as possible such cooperation 

 among the various States as will insure uniform and equitable inter- 

 state highway regulations, and for providing necessary funds for 

 carrying out such plans of national aid, if it shall be deemed feasible 

 to provide the same or any part thereof otherwise than by appro- 

 priation from the Treasury for that purpose. 



Act August 24, 1912, c. 389, s. 1, 37 Stat. 551. 



These are provisions of the postal service appropriation act for the 

 fiscal year 1913, cited above. 



REV. ST. SEC. 3677. 



Control of appropriations of the department. 



Sec. 3677. The Commissioner of Agriculture shall direct and super- 

 intend the expenditure of all money appropriated to the Department 

 and render accounts thereof. 



See note under Rev. St. sec. 525, above, as to change of designation of 

 Commissioner to Secretary of Agriculture. - 



