Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-31
A YEAR OF ENCOURAGEMENT
For THE CAUSE OF GOOD ROADS


million dollars has been spent or set aside for high
way development No less gratifying than this ap-
preparation is the keen interest which most State
governments taking in the technical and admin
istrative side roadway affairs The old tendency
to shift all such work the separate counties Is
yielding to the wiser policy of State aid and super
vision; and especially heartening is the fact that
the Federal government itself has at length awak-
ened to some sense of it's duty in this important
field of national needs.
The full and official list of highway appropria-
lions for the past twelve months is not yet avail
able but wealth of interesting data has been gath
cred and published by Mr.. L. H. Ramsey, secretary
of the Lakesto-the-Gulf Highway Association. His
report shows that nine States are spending each
minimum of million dollars annually on road i'm
provements they are California, Connecticut Massa
chusetts, New York. Ohio Iowa, Oregon, Pennsylva-
mia and Washington. From half million to MIL
hon year is spent by four states-Maine' Mary
land Oklahoma and New Jersey; while large num-
Der Of commonwealth appropriate from hundred
thousand to five hundred thousand dollars annually
New York alone allotted fifty million dollars to this
work. and California was proportionately liberal
These estimates do not include the divers sums
raised by counties in States where the burden II
highway development is still left to the individual
counties In Texas, for instance, ten million SIX
hundred and fifty thousand dollars was available
for road work Each county levied ad valorem
tax for road construction and maintenance aud from
this source also nearly four million dollars could be
derived. Many bond elections were held in 1911 and
1912 as a result of which six million dollars was
In
addition to this some seven hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars was raised through the road tax in
rural communities. To one degree or another this
is doubtless true of number of States not included
in the estimates from which we have quoted;
though Texas, it should be said. has shown itself
especially foresighted and progressive
In this connection it is interesting to note the
various means whereby road funds are obtained
There are 'ourteen States in which all the money
for highway improvements comes from the general
tax fund In four States this is supplemented by
the income from automobile licenses. The Louis
Vile CourierJournal says that in Kentucky the en-
tire amount of money spent by the State on road
work is from automobile licenses. In nine States,
the public road fund depends solely on bond issues
few States have special and continuous road tax
and others look chiefly to a poh TAX
Whatever the specific means for raising the road
fund.- it is coming to be realized generally, that
State highway commission is almost Indispensable
If the people are to receive due returns and If the
State is to have unified system of roads However
progressive and generous one county may be in the
matter of road building, it cannot realize its ideals
unless it's work is taken up and carried forward by
adjoining counties Indeed, the ultimate value and
service of any road depends largely on its connec-
lions with other good roads.
The establishment and maintenance of system
of highways demand the organized energy and di-
rection of the State itself That is clearly one of
the vital needs of Georgia in its highway endeavors.
The counties of this State have shown for the most
part an admirable spirit of earnestness in road de-
velopment Many of them have voted substantial
bond issues and invested in modern road build
ing machinery. Just how much the counties have
done is evidenced by the fact that with the excep
ton of New York State Georgia has built more miles
of roads within the past few years than any other
commonwealth in the Union.
If this can be accomplished without any financial
aid or systematic direction from the State itself,
how much more might be done, if the State would
establish an efficient bureau of highways and stand
continually behind every county in its efforts to
make good roads.
The good roads department of the University of
Georgia and the State department Of geology are
already rendering valuable service in this
ton, but if we to have wellknit and econom-
ically maintained system of highways, the Legisla-
ture must follow the example of other progressive
States and establish highway commission.
For the same reasons that the State should aid
and counsel the separate counties the federal gov
eminent should assist the individual States in road
construction An encouraging step in this direction
was taken at the last session of Congress when
joint committee from the House and the Senate
appointed inquire into the subject of federal aid
for interstate highways and to work out and report
10 n thot and in To he hat