furnish no insurmountable difficulty, one through the central portion of the country-for instance, from Denver west.

(4) The amount appropriated should be used, in the first instance, for construction. The States, I think, might maintain these highways, and perhaps an approximately equal division might be arranged between the Government and the State as between construction and maintenance, figuring out from the experience and the statistics in Europe what the maintenance of a permanent road would be.

(5) There should be, of course, Federal supervision. In case of Federal aid the scope of Mr. Page's office would be materially enlarged, and it is possible that we would then have with the Panama Canal, irrigation enterprises, good roads, etc., a department of public works, in which event we would have a competent officer charged with direct supervision over these matters, with a commissioner of public roads and a score of skilled engineers. By all means there should be Federal supervision.

(6) I have practically answered this question above. My best judgment is Federal construction in the beginning and a determination of the expense of maintenance so that the State may maintain and thereby expend its one-half of the whole expense. As I have suggested, the cost of maintenance may be computed to a nicety by reference to the maintenance in France, for instance, where that feature is reduced to a perfect system.

ARTHUR CAPPER, PUBLISHER TOPEKA CAPITAL, TOPEKA.

(1) and (2) The money should be apportioned between the various States according to the mileage of unimproved roads in each State. It should be available only for such States as have a State highway engineer or a highway commission of competent men who will cooperate with the Government in seeing that it is properly expended. The Government money should be used only in building permanent roads of the type best adapted to the locality-according to plans approved by State and Federal engineers. All roads should be up to this standard. The road district or county where roads are to be built should furnish one-fourth of the money, the State one-fourth, and the Government one-half. The money should be made available to the communities which first meet these conditions, thereby placing a premium upon active interest in good roads.

(3) Roads built should be rock, macadam, or of whatever material the community can best furnish-this to be determined by State and Federal engineers-to be within a certain maximum and minimum cost per mile.

(4) Permanent construction. If the State and county are not progressive enough to agree to maintain the road after it is built, it would be a waste to build one.

(5) The Federal engineers should, in conjunction with the State highway engineers, draw up the specifications and let the contracts; work to be superintended by the State and county engineers. Upon completion the road should be inspected and passed on by the Federal engineer before the money is paid.

(6) Money should be appropriated according to mileage in States, and appropriations held by Government until State legislatures have

appropriated one-half of the amount due from the Government; this money then to be accessible to the road districts in each State which first raise the necessary one-fourth to build permanent roads which meet the specifications laid down by the Federal engineers and agreed to by the State highway engineer or commissioners as being suitable to the topography and needs of the community in question.

It might be well to mention the fact that cross-State highways between the large cities will, if built before the county roads are constructed, do much to antagonize farmers against good roads.

W. B. HARRIS, RENO COUNTY ENGINEER, HUTCHINSON.

(1) As to a general plan upon which this Federal aid should be given.

Should the Federal Government decide to contribute to the improvement of roads or a system of roads, either local, State, or National, the Government authorities should first outline approximately the location of such roads or system of roads.

Since these roads should be so located that they will carry the heaviest traffic, that with least expenditure in improving tributary roads they will serve the largest possible, most densely populated and productive territory, and will provide for this territory the easiest access to market; that they will connect with least lost distance the principal cities and towns, and will be most easily and cheaply maintained, the final location should by all means be approved by the Federal authorities before the work of improving is begun.

The first Federal aid should be given only to such roads as will form part of such highways or system of highways.

(2) To what extent the plan should require the State or local authorities to contribute to the amount of money appropriated; and to what extent you think your State or local authorities would be willing to cooperate with the Federal Government.

The plan should require the local authorities in this State to contribute 50 per cent of the amount of money appropriated, and I think our local authorities would be willing to cooperate with the Federal Government to that extent.

(3) On what character of roads should the amount appropriated by the Federal Government be used?

To prescribe any particular material or materials, and limit Federal aid to roads constructed of such material or materials only, will either increase enormously the cost of road building in certain localities or will eliminate the roads in these localities as possibilities in forming part of a system of State or National highways.

The absence of any local material for building what are known as permanent roads, and the fact that such material would have to be shipped in from abroad, would render the cost of such roads greater than the results obtained would justify in such sections as western Kansas, for instance, where the average rainfall is light, and where earth and sand-clay roads can be built and maintained in good condition the entire year round.

(4) Should the amount appropriated be limited to construction or maintenance, or be given jointly for construction and maintenance? The amount appropriated should be given jointly for construction and maintenance for a period of at least five years.

Proper maintenance work, as it would be carried on by the Federal Government, would be worth more in an educational way than the work of first construction.

(5) To what extent, if aid is given, should there be Federal supervision?

The Federal Government should not contribute to either construction or maintenance work until the plans for both construction and maintenance have been approved by the Federal authorities, and there should be Federal supervision to whatever extent is necessary to guarantee that both construction and maintenance work will conform to the plans as approved.

(6) Submit a detailed plan workable for Federal and State cooperation in construction and maintenance.

Since the State of Kansas can not contribute to road improvement no plan can be workable for Federal and State cooperation in this State.

KENTUCKY.

ROBERT C. TERRELL, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC ROADS, FRANKFORT.

As to a general plan upon which Federal aid should be furnished: The Government should furnish a fair proportion-say one-half or one-third of the money necessary to construct and maintain roads—the local authorities furnishing the remainder, the Government retaining control or supervision of the roads. This money should be used on the main thoroughfares joining county seats, thereby making the roads both accessible for post and military purposes. The system would not only be of benefit to the counties, but would also furnish easy routes for troops moving east, west, north, and south.

The money appropriated by the Federal Government should be subject to use either for construction or maintenance, or both, as may be directed by the Federal engineers.

If Federal aid is available, the Government should have supervision of the location and construction, and post carriers should be daily inspectors over their respective routes, reporting deficiencies, as they occur, to the local authorities and making a general report to the office of public roads once each month.

As regards a plan for Federal and State cooperation in construction and maintenance is a problem that has confronted the Engineering Association for many years, and the Federal engineers are probably better prepared to offer suggestions along this line than State departments, which deal solely with local affairs.

MAINE.

PARKER L. HARDISON, COMMISSIONER, HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, AUGUSTA.

(1) As to a general plan upon which this Federal aid should be given.

It is my opinion that the plan of distribution of the fund should be left entirely to the Federal Government.

(2) To what extent the plan should require the State or local authorities to contribute to the amount of money appropriated;

and to what extent do you think your State or local authorities would be willing to cooperate with the Federal Government?

The State should appropriate at least one-half the amount. It is my opinion that the State should be allowed to raise their part of the joint fund by any method which they see fit. And I think our State would take advantage of that proposition, and the matter has already been passed to the legislature of this State, which is now in session, to ascertain the opinion of that body.

(3) On what character of roads should the amount to be appropriated by the Federal Government be used?

These roads should be selected by the State highway department and referred to the Federal authorities for their approval, and the class of road required should be recommended by the highway board The proportion of the various classes of roads to be built might be based on road mileage, or area.

(4) Should the amount appropriated be limited to construction or maintenance, or be given jointly for the construction and maintenance?

I think both construction and maintenance should be considered. In my judgment if provision could be made for a division of the allotment, if considered advisable by the State and Federal authorities, and a part used in the opening up, or construction of earth or gravel roads in the country, and a part for permanent construction, would appear to afford the greatest immediate improvement. (5) To what extent, if aid is given, should there be Federal supervision?

Either construction or maintenance should have the approval of the Federal authority, but I think this could be done by the local authorities in all of the States which have highway departments. States not having highway departments would naturally require more supervision than those which have these organizations.

(6) Submit a detailed plan workable for Federa! and State cooperation in construction and maintenance.

This State of Maine has a highway department, which could make plans and estimates of the proposed work, both in maintenance and construction, and all such work should be approved by the Federal Government before work is begun. It would appear to me that a law similar to one which we now have might be advantageous for doing the work or awarding the contracts. Provision is made in our law whereby local town authorities can contract to do the work without asking for bids, providing they will accept the estimates of cost of construction made by the department. This plan works well where local authorities are equipped for doing the work and expedites

matters.

MARYLAND.

O. E. WELLER, CHAIRMAN MARYLAND STATE ROADS COMMISSION, BALTIMORE. (1) As to general plan upon which this Federal aid should be given.

Federal aid should be given only on roads that will be used by interstate traffic. Generally speaking, from one to two roads running east and west and from one to two roads running from north to south.

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(2) To what extent the plan should require the State or local authorities to contribute to the amount of money appropriated, and to what extent you think your State or local authorities would be willing to cooperate with the Federal Government?

Roads should be built entirely by the Federal Government, without aid from State or counties.

(3) On what character of roads should the amount appropriated by the Federal Government be used?

The main through highways that connect with main highways of the adjoining States.

(4) Should the amount appropriated be limited to construction or maintenance, or be given jointly for construction and maintenance? The amount appropriated should cover both construction and maintenance.

(5) To what extent, if aid is given, should there be Federal supervision?

Federal supervision should extend over the entire work.

(6) Submit a detailed plan workable for Federal and State cooperation in construction and maintenance.

If the Federal Government, State, and county cooperated in building roads, say, one-third of the cost being paid by each, the general supervision should be in the hands of the Federal Government, but the direct charge of the work should be in the hands of the State highway commission. This aid should only be given to those States in which there is an established State highway commission to handle such work.

MASSACHUSETTS.

WILLIAM D. SOHIER, CHAIRMAN MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAY COMMISSION,

BOSTON.

First of all, no opinion as to the advisability or feasibility of the giving of Federal aid for roads should be expressed by my commission or inferred from anything herein contained. I am merely attempting to answer the specific questions contained in your letter.

The policy of the Government must be determined by the Congress and the President, the desires of this Commonwealth determined and expressed by the legislature and the governor, or by our Members in the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States.

Federal aid in road building, involving the actual construction or maintenance of roads on any mileage approaching even a system of main through roads would involve an expenditure of several hundreds of millions of dollars.

To form an opinion of much value as to the best method of securing good results from Federal aid, one should be thoroughly familiar with the conditions, laws, etc., in all the States. I am only acquainted with some of the laws and conditions in the New England States, particularly with those in Massachusetts. I shall, therefore, attempt only to outline a few of the principles which I believe to be essential if any substantial and lasting benefit is to be secured by "Federal aid."

(1) As to a general plan upon which this Federal aid should be given.