Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-04
A Plea From the PlOwShareS
For a Highway Commission
Loganville. Ga. r. f. D. No. ).


equal to needs. We people in the coun-
try who are in favor of good roads are get
ting tired of the way road business is be-
ing In many counties our money is be-
ing wasted, and we getting little or noth-
ing that we ought to be getting This county,
Gwinnett has changed its commission on an
average of every three years for the last ten,
and new plans are put in each time. One
commission will buy mules and engines; the
next will change to some other way We are
in great need of advice and guidance from
experts in road building. Too much of our
money is being spent without results. We
don't mind the tax, but want it spent judi
ciously. II seems to me that this could be
done by having State commission with ex-
pert assistance We are not going to let this
condition of affairs continue indefinitely.
think the people getting awfuly tired of
waiting for relief. Yours truly
W. A. BENNETT.
This letter is particularly significant in that it
reflects thoughtful opinion in the States rural dis
tricts The larger towns and the richer counties
could get along without a State highway commits
sion, because they can employ competent road en-
gineers and raise the funds needed for the most
efficient methods and machinery. But in the aver
age country district the need of State assistance
and supervision is imperative 1t was primarily for
the benefit of those districts that the federal good
roads
two million dollars, created; and it is pri-
mariIy for the needs of those districts that the
Legislature should pass an adequate highway COM
mission bill.
1t is conservatively reckoned that eight thou
sand dollars day is spent in Georgia for road i'm
provements: and if the State, by complying with
the terms of the federal law, gets its part of
the national fund, the amount will be greatly in
creased. How much of this outlay yields due re-
Iocly nf CHI
full service and competent administration? If there
are available means whereby the money spent, and
to be spent i'm the future, be made to produce
more roads and better roads, ought not the Legis-
lature as a matter of common justice and common
sense to adopt such means?
The answer is so obvious that the question
seems almost idle. Yet, year after year has gone
without any servceable legislation of the kind be-
ing enacted: and now the State is in imminent
danger of losing it's two million dollar part of the
federal appropriation simply for lack of high
way commission that will meet the requirements
of the federal act. If this money, to which the
people of Georgia are entitled is lost, the rural
districts will be the heaviest sufferers and the Leg
isators who obstruct the passage of an adequate
highway bill will be responsible
Our Loganville correspondent states the case
of the rural interests completely when he says:
1--WE are in need of advice and guidance
from experts IN road building. TOO mucn Of
our money is being spent without results. We
don't mind the tax but want it spent judi.
ciOusly."
How can the rank and file of counties get
expert advice and guidance in these matters with
out State highway commission composed of men
who have expert knowledge on road problems?
How can road funds be spent judicousy without
the counsel of competent engineers?
A highway commission lacking these elements
could not serve the needs of the counties, partic
uIarly the rural counties and would not enttle
the State it's share of the federal appropriation
If anyone fances that the national Government is
going to give Georgia two million dollars without
annie assurance that it will be spent efficiently
he is much deceived Congress has safeguarded
this fund with divers requirements, the most i'm
portant of which is that State in order to be ell
gible to federal aid for road improvement shall es
tabIish highway department which shall be a
highway department in fact and deed as well as
Elm name This department, the law stipulates
must make all Surveys, plans and specifications
which may be required. 1t must be able to give
the federal authorities notably the Secretary OF
Agriculture and the Secretary of the Treasury,
satisfactory account of all road work that is pro-
iected or accomplished. A commission incapable
of these duties would not be acceptable under the
terms of the national law.
There has been much needless debate the
personnel of the State highway commission. II
the purpose for which such commission is needed
and the duties it will be called upon to discharge
are understood the question of who should COM
pose it is very easy answer. Certainly, IL it is
to be a commission for service instead of mere poll
tics its members should include the heads of the
departments of engineering at the State University
and the Georgia School of Technology, the State
geologist and the chairman of the State Prison
Commission-the last named because of the essen
tial bearing of convict labor on road building.
President Matheson of the Tech, aptly observed.
in addressing the Senate committee this sub
ject that it would be great mistake mot to utl-
ize our expert assistance already in the States
employment"
THESE men," he added, have spent many
years in the development of road work, and
logically it would seem that the State should
Jump for their services"
BY settling the highway commission issue
promptly and reasonably the Legislature will give