The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-02-21
$40. 900 FOR COUNTY ROADS.
County Will Receive Federal Road
Money This Year.

One of the local bills passed at the
| recent session of the general assem-
bly, is of especial interest to Bam-
berg county people. This act en-
powers the county board of COM
| missioners to make use of the money
allotted to Bamberg county by the
federal government for road pur-
poses. This money can only be Sc
cured by the county putting up dol
lar for dollar received from the fed
eral road fund. Bamberg county is
assured of getting at least $4,000
from this fund, and may secure
slightly more than that:
The local act passed by the legis-
lature authorizes the county COM
missioners of Banherg to use the
money derived from the automobile
licenses, through the State highway
commission, and to use any unused
balances that may exist from any of
the appropriations for Bamberg coun-
ty. 1t is stated that considerable
money remains in the treasury to the
credit of various departments of the
county government. Under the ap-
preparation bills money appropriated
for one department cannot be used in
another, so this act was passed put
ting all unused balances from any
department of the. county into this
road fund. After all these moneys
have been expended the commission
ers are authorized to borrow suflci-
ent money to cover the remainder of
the fund required to secure the fed
eral road money. This will mean
that the county must raise for this
special purpose at least $4,000 or
an amount equal to the federal al
lotment.
Thus it will be seen that the coun-
ty will have at it's disposal this year
not less than $4,000 Tor good roads.
This money, however, must be ex-
pended in accordance with specifica-
tions of the federal government, act
ing through the State highway COM
mission.
The county supervisor and COM
missioners are now working upon a
system of roads upon which this
money will be expended. When the
roads have been agreed upon, they
must be submitted to the State high
way commission, which will secure
the approval of the federal road de-
partment. After that the roads have
been approved, the government will
send inspectors to see that the roads
are built according to government
specifications, and engineers from the
government will aid in their con-
struction.
1t is stated that the money will
probably be available by next July.
This is only the beginning of fed
eral road money. The total amount
available to the State during the first
five. years of the federal aid is ap-
proximatelys 81 100000. 1t is stated
by the sponsors of federal aid that if
this first appropriation is wisely used,
there is no doubt of further govern
ment assistance. The first appropria-
tion of some, eighty-fve millions of
dollars is in the nature of an expert
ment. If the experiment is a success,
and there is no doubt of that, the
government will be prepared to make
further appropriations, and it is be-
lieved that another appropriation will
be made before the present sum has
been completely usd up.
The total allotment for this county
was between thirteen and fourteen
thousand dollars, but this amount was
cut down by reason Of the fact that
each county in the State was ap-
portioned a certain amount to go,|
into a fund for the building of sew
eral bridges of Statewide importance.