in charge of that movement that we will gladly get behind it with all the power we possess. This Association has had no ax to grind, no selfish interests to serve, no salaried officers, no one trying to make this a stepping stone to political preference, no side issues to maintain. We have made no appeal for support in order that some one may be personally benefited thereby, nor has this Association any selfish interests behind it, nor has it received one dollar, knowingly, from any selfish source, but has relied solely on the contributions of those living along its line. Founded upon a great principle like this, we have never worried about the indifference of the multitude, nor the criticisms of the unfair.

Let our friends tie their fortunes to this fact! In due time it will find its place. Agreements do not make facts, but facts make agreements. People who do not agree with the truth get bumped by it. It is not our place to do the bumping-the truth takes care of that. The only legitimate propaganda along all lines of material and spiritual endeavor is the ascertainment and establishment of true principles. A true solution of any worth while question is as permanent as the fixed stars. Winter nor indifference will not freeze it; summer nor heated opposition will not melt it; apathetic and sordid pessimism will not affect it.

I cannot close without asking you to join me in giving three cheers to Theodore Gary, chairman of the State Highway Commission, who has so helpfully, so successfully, so loyally supported the best interests of the state, and also to the great State Highway Commission's Chief Engineer, Mr. B. H. Piepmeier.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Federal Highway Act.

(Public-No. 87-67th Congress.)

An Act to amend the Act entitled "An Act to provide that the United States shall aid the States in the construction of rural post roads, and for other purposes," approved July 11, 1916, as amended and supplemented, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the Feleral Highway Act.

Sec. 2. That, when used in this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise

The term "Federal Aid Act" means the Act entitled "An Act to provide that the United States shall aid the States in the construction of rural post roads, and for other purposes, approved July 11, 1916, as amended by sections 5 and 6 of an Act entitled "An Act making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1920, and for other purposes," approved February 28, 1919, and all other Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

The term "highway" includes rights of way, bridges, drainage structures, signs, guard rails, and protective structures in connection with highways, but shall not include any highway or street in a municipality having a population of two thousand five hundred or more as shown by the last available census, except that portion of any such highway or street along which within a distance of one mile the houses average more than two hundred feet apart.

The term "State highway department" includes any State department, commission, board, or official having adequate powers and suitably equipped and organized to discharge to the satisfaction of the Secretary of Agriculture the duties herein required.

The term "maintenance" means the constant making of needed repairs to preserve a smooth surfaced highway.

The term "construction" means the supervising, inspecting, actual building, and all expenses incidental to the construction of a highway, except locating, surveying, mapping, and costs of rights of way.

The term "reconstruction" means a widening or a rebuilding of the highway or any portion thereof to make it a continuous road, and of sufficient width and strength to care adequately for traffic needs.

The term "forest roads" means roads wholly or partly within or adjacent to and serving the national forests.

The term "State funds' includes for the purposes of this Act funds raised under the authority of the State, or any political or other subdivision thereof, and made available for expenditure under the direct control of the State highway department.

Sec. 3. All powers and duties of the Council of National Defense under the Act entitled "An Act making appropriations for the support of the Army for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1917, and for other purposes," approved August 29, 1916, in relation to highway or highway transport, are hereby transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Council of National Defense is directed to turn over to the Secretary of Agriculture the equipment, material, supplies, papers, maps, and documents utilized in the exercise of such powers. The powers and duties of agencies dealing with highways in the national parks or in military or naval reservations under the control of the United States Army or Navy, or with highways used principally for military or naval purposes, shall not be taken over by the Secretary of Agriculture, but such highways shall remain under the control and jurisdiction of such agencies.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to co-operate with the State highway departments, and with the Department of the Interior in the construction of public highways within Indian reservations, and to pay the amount assumed therefor from the funds allotted or apportioned under this Act to the State wherein the reservation is located.

Sec. 4. That the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish an accounting division which shall devise and install a proper method of keeping the accounts.

Sec. 5. That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture, upon his request, all war material, equipment, and supplies now or hereafter declared surplus from stock now on hand and not needed for the purposes of the War Department but suitable for use in the improvement of highways, and that the same shall be distributed among the highway departments of the several States to be used in the construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of highways, such distribution to be upon the same basis as that hereinafter provided for in this Act in the distribution of Federal-aid fund: Provided, That the Secretary of Agriculture, in his discretion, may reserve from such distri bution not to exceed 10 per centum of such material, equipment, and supplies for use in the construction, reconstruction,

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and maintenance of national forest roads or other roads constructed, reconstructed, or maintained under his direct supervision.

"Sec. 6. That in approving projects to receive Federal aid under the provisions of this Act the Secretary of Agriculture shall give preference to such projects as will expedite the completion of an adequate and connected system of highways, interstate in character.

"Before any projects are approved in any State, such State, through its State highway department, shall select or designate a system of highways not to exceed 7 per centum of the total highway mileage of such State as shown by the records of the State highway department at the time of the passage of this Act. "Upon this system all Federal aid apportionments shall be expended.

"Highways which may receive Federal aid shall be divided into two classes, one of which shall be known as primary or interstate highways, and shall not exceed three-sevenths of the total mileage which may receive Federal aid, and the other which shall connect or correlate therewith and be known as secondary or intercounty highways, and shall consist of the remainder of the mileage which may receive Federal aid.

"The Secretary of Agriculture shall have authority to approve in whole or in part the systems as designated or to require modifications or revisions thereof: Provided, That the States shall submit to the Secretary of Agriculture for his approval any proposed revisions of the designated systems of highways above provided for."

Not more than 60 per centum of all Federal aid allotted to any State shall be expended upon the primary or interstate highways until provision has been made for the improvement of the entire system of such highways: Provided. That with the approval of any State highway department the Secretary of Agriculture may approve the expenditure of more than 60 per centum of the Federal aid apportioned to such State upon the primary or interstate highways in such State.

The Secretary of Agriculture may approve projects submitted by the State highway departments prior to the selection. designation, and approval of the system of Federal-aid highways herein provided for if he may reasonably anticipate that such projects will become a part of such system.

Whenever provision has been made by any State for the completion and maintenance of a system of primary or interstate and secondary or intercounty highways equal to 7 per centum of the total mileage of such State, as required by this Act, said State. through its State highway department, by and with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, is hereby authorized to add to the mileage of primary or interstate and secondary or intercounty systems as funds become available for the construction and maintenance of such additional mileage,