New York State Division of Highways Correspondence Files Regarding Federally Funded Highway Construction Projects

Chronological.

"An act to provide that the United States shall aid the states in the construction of rural post roads, and for other purposes" appropriated $75,000,000 to be distributed among the states that assented to the provisions of this act. New York State began its participation in the program when Chapter 462 of the Laws of 1917 was enacted. The main thrust of the federal aid act was that the federal government would join with the states in the construction of federal aid highways on the basis of equal costs to the state and the federal governments. The distribution of the moneys was based upon a ratio obtained from three factors: area, population and mileage. Originally, the cost to the federal government was not to exceed $10,000 per mile. This figure was later doubled by an amendment to the act, which became effective on February 28, 1919.

This series consists mainly of incoming and outgoing correspondence directed to and generated by the commissioner's office of the Division of Highways, Department of Public Works. The files also contain the correspondence of the division's predecessor offices, which include the Bureau of Highways within the Department of Public Works and the State Commissioner of Highways.

The correspondence deals with the construction of highways and roads as provided for by an act of Congress passed July 11, 1916, entitled "An act to provide that the United States shall aid the states in the construction of rural post roads, and for other purposes." The bulk of the files deal with the administration of the 1916 federal aid act. Most of the correspondence is between the state official responsible for overseeing the construction of highways and the federal district engineer who ensured that all provisions outlined in the act were being met by the state. The files clearly document this close working relationship between state and federal officials.

Folder list is available at the repository.

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