Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1916 — ROAD BUILDING RESPONSIBILITIES. [ARTICLE]

ROAD BUILDING RESPONSIBILITIES.

Indiana, in its desire to participate in the federal road fund, may forget the real end to be attained, which is scientific and economical road construction. The legislature must establish a state highway department. This department must conform to certain ideas presented by legislation and experience. And, once established, ' the department must maintain itself at the required standard. State highway officials who were called to Washington recently to discuss rules and regulations heard an explanation of the law by Secretaiy Houston. The department of agriculture, which is charged with administration of the act, intends to require observance of the spirit as well as the letter. • The amount appropriated, large as it is, seems insignificant in comparison with the sum now spent by the whole nation in improving its highways. It is expected that the $150,000,000 or so contributed bj- the states and the nation within the next few years will accomplish more in the aggregate than the spending each year of $250,000,000 by the states. The reason is that the government will require the states to watch their appropriations and to standardize construction.

It is assumed by the department of agriculture that under the law every state will employ experts, “it will necessitate,” says Mr. Houston.” trained intelligence in the service of the state as well as in the service of the federal government. The act requires the state to accept it. That, as I understand it, implies the assent of the state to every provision of the act. One of these provisions is that projects, plans, specifications and contracts shall be. submitted and approved; and I have a suspicion that plans and specifications will not be approved unless they are submitted by people who know about such things. So the assent of the state involves the calling of trained men into the service of every state which is now without them.” This applies to Indiana. It will not be enough merely to create the shell of a department in which federal aid may be housed. There must be competent engineers and honest material so that- the expenditure of all the money will be safe-guarded. The advocates of federal aid in the construction of highways obtained national appropriations for state work, but these appropriations, under xthe law, impose responsibilities and duties which can not to be shirked.—lndianapolis News.