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Show SEEKS MORE U. S. MONEY FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS t WASHINGTON. Sept. 21 Liberal J allotments of public moneys to public 1 land states for road construction was 1 urged before tho advisory highway - board and the bureau of public roads " jeaterday by Ira R. Browning, state road engineer of Utah Mr. Browning, i a member of the former organization, is In Washington -with other road offi- : clals who arc taking up road problems which are pressing and will later bo brought to the attention of congress. The last of the federal appropriations appropria-tions for roads have been allotted and unless a new law is enacted or one of the existing road laws Is re-enacted by congress before July 1 co-operative road work will cease. Mr. Browning will present to the conference con-ference tho handicap under which the western states are working in carrying forward their good roads progams. Utah, fo example, he points out, has 70 per cent of Its area tied up in government govern-ment forest and other reservations, In coal land and other withdrawals, or is otherwise In government ownership and control and therefore not taxable. This places upon 21 per cent of the state tho burden of building roads for the 100 per cent area and as the population popu-lation is relatively small, as compared with the east, while distances aro greater, the burden is doubly heavy. This is true, he says, not only In Utah, but In other states similarly handicapped handi-capped Congress is making past approprla-i tious for co-operative road work stipu- lated tho baBis upon which government govern-ment funds should be used along withj state funds, and congress must amend tho law before this injustice to the public land states can be corrected. It will bo the bureau of public roads which must lead tho movement before congress for new roads appropriations; and, because this bureau is to take tho Initiative, Mr. Browning hopes to convince con-vince its officials of tho Justice of tho demands. |