The Ocala evening star., 1919-04-11
TRADE BODY WANTS
ROAD LEGISLATION
Resolutions Adopted Last Night Urg-
ing that State Match Fed
eral Funds

Resolutions were passed by the
Marion County Board of Trade last
night urging the legislature to enact
such laws as are necessary to provide
state funds to match the federal aid
finds apportioned to Florida for good
roads, and favoring law to place all
able-bodied state convicts capable of
performing road work under the
supervision of the state road depart
ment, to be worked upon the state
system of roads to be constructed and
maintained by this department. Copies
Of the resolutions will be sent to
Marion's senator and representatives.
Florida's apportionment of the fed
eral road funds is approximately $3,-
15O,258.97 for the next three years.
Ii the state meets this dollar for dol
lar as is required, there will be avail
able for the state highways during
the next three years approximately
6,5O0,OO0.
The board of trade on March Is
endorsed the movement for the aboli-
ton of the lease system. but did not
go on record as to any particular dis
position of the convicts.
The resolutions adopted last night
were as follows:
Whereas, nearly one million dol
lars of federal aid funds for road
building has been apportioned to the
state of Florida for the current year
and is Immediately available, provided
the state legislature makes legal pro-
vision for meeting same with an equal
amount of state funds; and,
Whereas, an additional sum of
sufficient amount to bring the total to
approximately three million dollars
of federal aid for road building will
be available during the two years
period ending June 20, 1921, on the
same conditions as above mentioned;
and,
Whereas, the federal authorities
have ruled that the value of the labor
Of state convicts, worked on state
roads under state supervision, can be
credited on account of the total
amount to be raised by the state to
match the federal aid funds appor-
toned to the state; therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of
the Marion County Board of Trade
that the legislature of the state of
Florida should, and is hereby respect
fully urged to enact whatever laws
are necessary to provide state funds
to meet the federal aid funds appor-
toned to Florida; and be it further
Resolved, that in order to make
the state convicts now under lease
available for work on the public
roads so that the value of the labor
of said convicts can be applied to
meeting a part of the amount to be
provided by the state to meet federal
aid, the Marion County Board of
Trade does hereby place itself on re-
cord as favoring the abolition of the
state convict lease system and the en-
acJment of a law providing for the
placing of all able-bodied state con-
victs capable of performing road
work under the supervision of the
state road department to be worked
upon the state system of roads to be
CONSTRUCTED and maintained by said
department; and be it further
Resolved, that copy of these res
olutions be transmitted to the senator
and representatives from Marion
county and that said senator and
representatives be and they are here
by respectfully urged to do all within
their power to secure the enactment
Of laws to put in force and carry out
the recommendations embodied in
these resolutions"