The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-21
Will ASK STATE
TO Be LIBERAL
ON SHELBY ROADS
This County Pays Halt Million
Into State Road Funds and
Hopes for Justice in DiStri-
button of Appropriations.

Shelby county will pay this year into
me various road funds which are 70
ne expended under the direction OF the
Tennessee highway commission al
least half million dollars
The county commissioners hone that
IN making appropriations for Shelby
county roads from those state funds.
the highway commissioners will see
me Justice Of allotting a reasonable
amount TO be spent on the Shelby
county links Of several OF the great
highways which pass through the state.
RMS proposition viii be presented in
formally Monday by the county com
nissioners to the members OF the state
board
Members Of the Tennessee highway
commission viii spend Monday IN
shelby county and viii be given an on
portunity TO inspect some Of the coun-
Tvs finest bikes Members u the com
mission are w. w. House w. T. Moore
and w G. FISHERMAN. They arc 10
hold a special session at jackson on
tuesday and have notified the county
commissioners that they will come
iirst 10 Memphis for an inspection OF
some OK the highways which II is pro-
posed 10 Improve during the present
year and upon which the state com
mission viii be asked to spend some
OF the state funds
NO state funds were available for the
Sheioy county roads last year. THIS
IA
small proportion. amounting TO about
one-siNth, OF the cost OF resurfacing
the pike from Memphis 10 Minlngton.
, The federal government under the
new general road laws, has agreed TO
assume about three-aixths and Shelby
county pays the other third The con
tract calls for about $500 600.
Additional contracts for about seven
miles more from Wilmington To the Tim
ION county line and branch route.
wi be iet within "a month probably.
John Bown. chairman Of the county
commission. hopes to induce the state
highway commission TO let the enn-
tract Tor the entire cost OF one or more
important highway links in Shelby
county. az the law permits such con-
tracts, However. thus far since the
new highway department WAS organ
lied, no contract has been ,participated
IN by the state except on a basis %
one-sixth Of the oost.
Road building material and bridge
material seem almost impossible. The
| county commissioners are figuring
now on their road building program
4 for this year. After Il conference viii,
tthe state highway board. they may ha
able 70 outline the work 10 b. done.
| \ appesrs, however. that Shelby a
| Rollsr ~ nag hundreds or thousands VI
| dollars more into the state road fund
than win be returned for work III tlils
county.
| The auto tax. for example will be
| about $3.50, 600 fom Shelby county. The
county win get back. under the naw
| law for distribution OF that fund, only
| about $1,000
Half Of the total auto tax. after be-
| ing paid TO the state. is 70 be divided
| equally between all the counties OF the
state. Ten per cent Is TO be used for
| The other 40 per cent goes into the
general highway fund and can be ex =
pended wherever the state board de-
| termines W
| II the increased realty assessment
recently made stands practically un-
changed. Shelby will also pay this
year about 100000 under the one mill
! special highway tax. instead OF 500.
| 900. the sum collected under the one
mill state levy for 1919