The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-03
TENNESSEE GETS GOOD
PORTION OF ROAD FUND
Projects Approved by Officials
Involve Expenditure Of
S6,024,046.

Warrington. Sept. s-(speciaD- -oi
the 500. 100000 federal aid funds for
road building Tennessee's Apportion-
mont. made available July !. 1890, Ia
$2,26i,9li, The amount previously APP
portioned TO Tennessee Ia 81, 966, 2il,
which added to the present apportlon-
ment makes total OF S6,22slSS.
Project statements approved byethe
secretary OF agriculture for Tcnnessee
on 500 miles OF road involve federal aid
expenditure OF s2,9g6,SSs The total
cost OF these projects viii be s6,02i9i9.
Projects In road construction under
| agreement IN Tennessee viii cost S6,-
S69,676. or this expenditure there will
ba federal aid to the amount OF S2,6Ss,-
tQe. These projects embrace 2Sb miles
OF road.
There Ia at present In Tennessee 2ie
miles of road under contract and COM
pleted with federal aid to the amount
OF $2,209,Sb7
The appropriations OF 1915 and 1919
for road building, which have been APP
porttoned and are now available, are
the last OF road bVAding funds until adj
ditional appropriations are made by
congress. Officials OF the federal bu-
reau OF public roads here express APP
prehension over the possibility OF delay
In this matter, as II, ID necessary that
the appropriations be made far In ad-
vance of their use In order that prepa-
rations by the various states may be
made in their plans for employing fed
eral aid. II ia pointed out that the
states should know At least yetn In
advance what funds are to be avail
able H. order that plans may he made
for future construction.
Under the law" said Thomas II.
Macdonald, chief OF the bureau OF pub
lie roads, 1.-THE states are required to
enter into formal agreements with tho
secretary OF agriculture for the con-
| Btruction upon which this money is to
be used before July 1. 1922.
Any money which Ia not taken w
| before that time will be reapportioned
among all the states In the same man
ner in which the original apportion'
ments are made. All previous appor-
tionments have been taken up in this
| time allotted, and II Ia not likely that
the states win fall to absorb thi'
last apportionment. To do so. how,
over. viii mean that the states must
least $500, 000, 900 worth of federal aic
road construction In the next tive
years.
III tho states continue to pay more
than 80 per cent OF the cost. as they
have In the past. the cost OF the roads
constructed with this last apportion.
ment may reach $2b0O00, 600. In other
words. II will be necessary to plan fol
construction at the rate of at least
500, 00O, 900 and probably more per year
Some appreciation OF what that means
may be cleaned from the fact that IN
1915 the expenditure for all roads In the
United States, Constructed under state
supervision. was only $50, 100000 Since
1915, however, state highway depart l.
ments have been greatly expanded, and
efficient machinery has been developed
which will undoubtedly he able TO handle
the greater volume OF work"
In discussing the possible misfortune
OF federal appropriations being allowed
to lapse, Mr.. Macdonald said.
THE highway. department should
know at least year In advance what
funds are TO be available In order that
plans may be made for future con-
Htructlon. Unless, therefore. further
federal action In taken In the coming
year the states will be left In doubt as
to the future policy of the govern
ment, and the amount OF money they
must be prepared to expend, Such a
contingency would Involve serious
setback 10 the progress OF road con-
atruction, and should be avoided by
early congressional action"