The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-06-29
BOND ISSUEFOR
ROADSSYSTEM
WITHOUT BONDS STATE ROAD
DEPARTMENT WILL BE HELP
LESS DURING COMING YEAR.

Florida cannot hope to see the ful-
6Ilrnent of the dream for good roads
without a state bond issue, the pro-
ceads to be used for this one purpose,
said ]. p. Clarkson, of the Florida
state Automobile association WIN
out the bond issue for the system OF
permanent roads there will be no funus
available for road construction under
the supervision of the state road de-
partment next year, he said, as the
present special levy of two mills Tor
meeting federal aid funds Tor roao
construction ends with the present
year.
The legislature of 1919 provided this
special levy for only two years, and
made no provision whatever for feed
ing. clothing and guarding the able
bodied state prisoners turned over TO
the state Road Department to be
worked on the public roads.
The road department has been able
To care for these convicts and keep
them working on roads included IN
federal aid projects by paying the cost
of feeding. clothing and guarding
them with funds from the two mil
levy. This was done for the reason
that the labor of the convicts was
matched against the federal aid funds
and the county funds in the counties
through which these roads pass. But
unless there is a specific appropria-
ton of funds for meeting federal AID
funds for the years 1921 and l9zz
there will be no federal aid funds ap-
portioned to Florida for these two
years.
The federal aid road law requires
that all apportionments of fedora
Il g.x,s4f x4f4fa my
met with at least an equal amount
n Is not a case of the federal govern
ment meeting on fifty-fifty basis
any amount that state may see II
to apportion or appropriate for roads
The amount apportioned each STATE
is fixed and the state may take 1t OF
the terms stipulated in the federal ali
road law. or let it alone. The fedora
government does not deal with coun
ties. 1t apportions federal aid 10
roads only to state having duly con
stituted state road department, an
only on condition that the state shal
meet the amount with an equal amour
or more, and that all work and ex
penditure OF all funds on each an
every project approved by the Score
tary of Agriculture shall be unde
the supervision and control OF IN
State Road Department.
From all parts of the state comes
demand for reduction in state take
If the two mill tax levy for meetin
federal aid could be cut off, this woul
reduce the state levy one-sixth. as tn
total levy for 1919 was IL mills.
This levy can be entirely done ava
with provided the legislature is give
authority to issue bonds as provide
in the proposed amendment to I'll
state constitution. But unless III
- amendment is adopted, and the legis
lature does provide for state bon
issue. it will not only be necessai
to continue the levy, in order tn
Florida may secure its share OF fet
eral aid funds for roads, but IL ms
be necessary to increase the amour
1t is very probable that the amour
of federal aid will be materially i
creased next year. If 1T is, sometnll
must be done TO provide funds I
Meeting this states apportionment.
In Illinois state bonds to the amou
of $60,000,000 and in Alabama sta
bonds to the amount of $25,0OO,o
have been authorized, with the int
est and sinking fund for the bon
taken care of entirely with the rev
nues from the motor vehicle ilceI
tax.
By Increasing the present hcer
tax not more than fifty per cent,
bond issue Of twenty million dol'