The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-03-18
MAY DELAY BRIDGE BUILDING
Trouble Ahead i'm Effort to Secure
Federal Aid.

The Columbia Correspondent OF the
Florence Times says:
! Columbia, March IA spider has
been found in the soup of the plans
for the erection of three big bridges
in South Carolina, over the Pee Dee,
over the Santee and over the Savan-
nah. The tardinesS of counties in
asking for federal road aid has
brought about situation which con-
fronts the state highway department
with a problem involving the compile
tion of the three big steel bridges.
Bond issues have been authorized
in several counties of the state for
the construction of the Pee Dee, San
tee and Savannah bridges. These
bonds were voted with the view of
matching the money dollar-for-dollar
with federal funds. Twenty per cent
of the federal aid money goes to
bridge construction but for the past
two years there has been so little
bridge work done that the bridge por
tion of the fund remained large and
some counties decided to build the
big steel bridges and to use the fed
eral aid available. The recent legise
lature authorized bonds for three
such bridges, and it is now found
that the bridge money available from
the federal government will not
match all the money provided in the
bond issues for the three big bridges,
The highway department is confront
ed with the problem of what to do.
The total bridge money available
from the federal government is $3.50,
900, and of this only 100000. has
been used prior to 1920. The money
which is now wanted from the gov
ernment for the Pee Dee, Santee and
Savannah bridges would total $780,
900, nearly 100000 more than is
available. The highway department
will likely recommend that the mon
ey from the bond issues to be used
to construct the main portion of the
three big spans, and that the fed
eral aid and other money available
be divided among the bridges and be
used for construction of the cause
ways so far as it will go, the compile
tion Of the causeways on perma-
nent basis being left to future date.
This will make possible crossings
over the three rivers, and temporary
causeways can be constructed.
The bridge over the Pee Dee at
Mars Bluff is to cost 100000. Flor
ence county will issue bonds to the
amount Of $4,000 for this bridge
Marion $4,000, Charleston $4,000
and Dillon $4,000 and Berkley $685.
900. The Santee bridge will cost mil
lion and Charleston, Berkley and
Williamsburg counties will divide the
cost in proportion of these two bridg-
es.
In case of the Savannah bridge,
North of Savannah, Ca, the cost is to
be divided between the federal gov
ernment and the two states. The
bridge will cost 100000. The South
Carolina share, one-fourth, will be
borne by the counties of Beaufort,
Berkley, Jasper, Allendale, Colleton
and Hampton.
The problem of apportioning feder-
al funds for the construction of these
three spans will be one of the first
problems to confront the new high
way commission though the out
going commission will also probably
advise in regard to it.
Road Inspection.
The South Carolina Railroad Com
mission will next month begin its
annual inspection of the railway prop
erty of the state. This will be the
first inspection since government con-
troll and will be with the special
view of determining the condition of
the tracks and rolling stock now as
compared with the condition when
the ROADS were turned over to The
government. The three members Of
the commission will travel over every
mile of railway in the state and will
make complete inspection also of
the property.