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Show BIG MONEY FOR HIGHWAYS Copies of the "Townseud hill," which plans to create a federal highway high-way commission and provides for the expenditure of $425,000,000 for the construction of a national highway system during the next five years, under un-der the supervision of the commission, jhave reached tie office of the state road commission. Tho bill is at pres-'ent pres-'ent awaiting tho action of congress. If passed, it will be known as the national highway act. As first presented to congress, the 'bill was regarded with disfavor in I some section of the United States. Since then tho bill has been redrawn 'and. it is declared, "strengthened by the adoption of sound suggestions to 'meet the requirements of all sections I of the country." Assurance is given1 I by the federal highway council that 'iii. Its presont form the measure will be pressed to a definite action as firmly firm-ly and consistently as legislative conditions con-ditions will warrant. In providing for a national highway system, connecting onch state, it Isj stipulated that the system shall not 'includo any highway in a municipality! having a population, as shown by the latest available census, of 5000 or more. It is provided that the portion of ihe national highway system in each state shall equal 1 per cent of the total highway mileage used as such in the state, as ascertained by such 1 per cent will not suffice to enable en-able tho national highway system to afford at least two highways connecting connect-ing with national highways in adojin-ing adojin-ing states, tho commission shall increase in-crease the mileage of the national system sufficiently to provide two such highways. The commission will be authorized to select as part of the national highway high-way system any highway already constructed con-structed which accords with a standard stan-dard deemed by the commission to be adequate for present and probablo future fu-ture traffic, or which, in the opinion of the commission, can be reconstructed to accord with such standard. Tho commission shall value tho reproduction reproduc-tion cost of any such highway at current cur-rent prices and wages and shall con- c; f Tl 1 o t or mov Mni"m( -n-W l- (U e,4-. highway department for the construction construc-tion of other highways connecting and correlating with the national system, a mileage equal in value to the highway high-way selected. In other words, should the Arrowhoad trail be selected as one of the Utah highways of the national system, that part of it already paved ml3ht, if the national commission so approves, be appraised as to Its reconstruction re-construction cost and the money so saved to the national highway commission commis-sion bo used In constructing other roads In this state connecting with the (national highway system. No money is to be spent in any state by the national highway commission until the legislature of the state assents as-sents to the -provisions of tho national highway act, and to the taking over by the national commission of existing state roads or rights of way as a part of, the national system. Until the final fi-nal session of the legislature held after af-ter regular session of the legislature held after the act takes effect the assent as-sent of the governor of the state shall be sufficient to authorize such expenditures. expen-ditures. ! The commission Is charged with the duty of building only durable types of roads, in consideration of present and future probable traffic. No right of way shall be less than sixty-six feet .wide nor shall the wearing surface be less than twenty feet wide. The state of Utah Is at present using an eignteen foot pavement, and plans to use a nine-foot pavement on portions of the Arrowhead trail constructed south from Nephi. j The $425,000,000 is to be available as follows: Fifty million dollars imme-j diately upon passage of tho act; $75,-000,000 $75,-000,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1 next, and $100,000,000 a year for each of the three years following. After Af-ter deducting not more than 5 per cent las the cost of administering tho fund, land such additional amounts as may bo necessary for maintenance the commission com-mission shall annually appropriate tho remainder of each appropriation among the stales In the ratio that the mileage selected in each state bears to the total mileage selected in all states. If the money Is not spent within five years after being made l available it shall revert to the treasury. treas-ury. I The bill provides that the national highway commission shall be compos-'ed compos-'ed of five members, appointed, after I the first commission is formed, for I five-year terms, at $10,000 per annum. Appointments are by the president, subject to confirmation by tho senate, and must be made with due regard to representation of all the geographical 'divisions of the country. |