The Pensacola journal., 1920-04-07
ROAD APPORTIONMENT.

counties which, far have signay failed In their
duty to themselves and their state in their reuc-
tance to assume the obligation that road bonds
would represent.
Recently there has been much comment in the
state papers in regard to the counties which are
doing their share towards bonding and building good
roads. In all of this comment. thing stands out
very clearly; there is very hazy idea as to just
how much each individual county has appropriated
and just how state aid has been apportioned.
The Journal believes that every county in the
state has a right to know fully and completely Just
how much aid every other county has received and
just how the money which has been apportioned
has been secured, and why.
1t was publicly stated at the meeting OF the state
road executives, in Pensacola, that some counties
in the state were receiving than reasonable
share of the state apportionment. One member Of
the board declared that Florida counties were
receiving more than their share of state funds
Another member in reply, declared that in certain
parts of Florida enormous had been spent
on good roads, and that these sections deserved all
the aid they had received.
II this is true, then the state board should make
public statement of HOW THIS MONEY WAS
SECURED whether by county bonds through con-
tributions OF private citizens how. Certainly the
people have a right to know how public monies
being spent.
But. while it is only fair that the counties which
aid it is also true that there certain sections OF
the state which must be developed unless the de-
velopment OF the entire state be retarded The
best way to get at these things is to urge publicity
for every county and state department. If the
Representatives of the people will come clean with
| an itemized statement of how the road money and
other public funds spent and give their reasons
for apportionng certain sums to certain counties
then and only then the people will have good
has Epo
stands the road question
| In "a recent editorial the Tampa Tribune makes
comment on the division of cost OF road building
as follows:
| When city starts out to pave q street it makes
no difference if two property owners along
that street object not. the paving is done And
although that one two may declare they will not
pay any part of the paving on the ground of .let
those who expect to be benefited pay" the mun-
PATTY collects from them their part lust the same
we are constantly being told there are backward
counties in the state which will not bond for build
ing hard roads through their and that it is our
duty to collect the cost of that part of the
the counties beyond which latter all are the ones
| to benefit" 1t is because this doctrine has been
preached and partly put into effect that there are
Florida backward counties" when it comes to
building roads. They would be fools to paw their
money for what is going to be given them whether
they pay for it or not
All Florida wants good roads-even those counties
wlich are called backward. There is not a county
put VIII nave to build roads to put itself where
settlement and development can find it, And the
time is come when each part of the state each
county, must have its part in the paving as well as in
the benefitting
| If the right of eminent domain" will enable a
railroad to be built through the lands of one who
hoids out unreasonaby for hard terms or who
denies into the privilege of passing through his lands
Tor any consideration. surely there is right of
something" which will enable state TO saw to a
county which blocks the building of a main high
way: Your part of the cost is so much" and then
levy and collect it by process of law If there he
no such right" then it high time the people were
securing such right.
/ we are hearing now OF a s20,O00000 state bond
issue ior building good roads. And told that
1t is largely needed TO build connecting links in
lroaN we now have in counties which are not alive
enough to bond and build them No sane man in
Florida is opposed to good roads; no sane man can
AFFORD TO oppose any proper method getting them
me tribune has been leader in the movement
ior 5000 roads, and it has been the leader in the
movement to Keep fipm having our states money
frittered away for just anything that strikes popu
lar chordS>bu which has not been considered from
any other financing standpoint that of general
statewide taxation
! There are many counties in Florida which have
almost completed their needed road building pro-
sram; there many other counties now in the
process OF mapping out a plan for building their
needed roads and there are many counties in the
STATE which sit back compacentiy observe wink
ihsiy TO each other. "Oh, well, what's the use in
bonding our county when taxes are high enough
Those other counties viii have to have the roads
throush our counties to make their road systems
worth anything to them. Let us wait until the en-
70 is hon AaI