Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-08
French Capture Mile
OF First Line renches
GEORGIA TO GET SHARE OF
BIG FEDERAL ROAD FUND
.0fficiaI Recognition Of New
State Highway Commission
InSureS Appropriation

The Georgia state highway commits
sion composed of the members of the
state prison commission, the state geolo-
gist and the professors of civil engineer
ing al the Georgia School of Technology
and the University of Georgia, by virtue
of a recent act of the general assem-
bly,, has been officially recognized by the
federal department of agriculture and
the state, accordingly. will receive its
share of the mammoth federal road fund,
amounting to over 100000 during the
next five years.
This information reached the Office of
the state highway commission Thursday
morning in the shape of a letter from
Secretary of Agriculture d. F. Houston
transmitting the rules and regulations
governing the application of the federal
money.
The letter, which formally recognizes
the commission as properly organized to
meet the federal requirements, dispels
all doubts regarding Georgia's chance
of sharing I'm the road fund that might
have existed in the past and bears ont
tie contention of the commission that
the act creating II was in conformity
with the requirements of the federaI
act.
Both Chairman r. E. DAWSON and
commissioners L. Rainey, who were in
from Secretary Houston came, were de-
lighted with the assurance that the state
would get its Share of the fund and an
nounced that an early meeting of the
commission would be called to comply
with the request of the department of
agriculture.
LETTER FROM HOUSTON.
The letter of Secretary Houston, in
full, follows:
Department of Agriculture,
washington, Sept, /, 1916.
THE Chairman, State Highway Com
mission, State Capitol, Atlanta, Ca
"Sir: There are transmitted here7
with rules and regulations made pur-
suant to the act of congress entitled,
An act to provide that the United
States shall aid the states in the con-
struction of rural post roads and for
other purposes approved July IL, 1915.
Your attention as directed to Regula-
ton 8, Section l. which refers to in
formation to be furnished to the secre-
tary. 1t is highly desirable that the
road construction under the terms of
the federal aid road act shall conform
In each state to some definite scheme
or program rather than that individual
projects should be submitted in hap
hazard and aimless fashion. l feel sure
that you will agree with me as to the
necessity for such a scheme or pro-
gram at the outset, and therefore ask.
that, prior to the submission of any in
dividual project or coincident with the
submission of your first project, you
submit in as complete detail as may
be practicable, your scheme or program
of work under the federal aid road act
for the entire five-year period as you
may be in position to set forth at this
time.
I'm addition TO setting forth the
scheme or program of work proposed
for your state, please outline what ac-
tion il is proposed to take to meet the
requirements of the act. This in
formation should set forth the sources
and method of making available the
states proportion of cost of each pro-
ject. the authority of the state and To-
cal officials i'm reference to the construc-
ton and maintenance of roads proposed
for construction under the act, the ia
cilities which the state possesses for
carrying out the duties which participa-
ton in the benefits of the act will in
volve, the maintenance funds to be pro-
vided. and the responsibility which viii
be assumed for maintenance.
IF available, il is suggested that you
submit with your program of work
man of the highway system in your
state and indicate thereon the highways
YOU contemplate recommending for con-
struction or Improvement under the act.
The accompanying text should set forth
fully the reasons for your selections
and the purposes which the proposed
highways will serve.
"In brief, such information is desired
as will insure a complete understanding
between the federal officials and state