Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-21
OVER FIVE MILLION
SPENT ON GEORGIA
HIGHWAYS IN 1920

That there has been expended in
Georgia in the calendar year 1920 a
total Of $2,402,911. of federal funds
for aid in highway construction, is
shown by detailed statement is
sued Saturday by the state highway
department.
For every dollar Of federal funds
expended in Georgia. there was more
than a dollar Of state and county
funds expended. The grand total of
highway expenditures for the year.
the statement further shows, is S.
724,204.18. This, Of course, covers
projects handled by the state high
way department. 1t does not count
the many miles Of county highways
built by the counties at their own
expense and under their own super
vision.
From the beginning of federal aid
for highway construction down to
June 80, 1921, which will close the
present fiscal year Of the federal
government, there will have been ap-
portioned to Georgia from the fed
eral treasury for highway construc-
ton the sum total Of 100000, it
was further shown by the highway
department. The governments flu
ture program of highway construc-
ton is yet to be determined by con-
gress. Several bills are pending
One provides for a continuance OF
aid to the states in general high
way construction, while another pro-
vides for two or three trans-conti-
mental lines to be built and maintain.
ed at federal expense.
State Aid Preferred
Officials Of the state highway de-
partment Of Georgia are hoping for
continuance Of the present policy
Of aid for the states, inasmuch as
the construction of few trans
continental highways would benefit
only the particular localities through
which they passed.
Counties in Georgia which have
supplemented the state and federal
funds with funds Of their own have
thereby enabled the state highway
department to go forward promptly
with the construction Of the links of
the state highway system located in
those counties. In this connection
the state highway board made the
cit is highly advantageous to
counties to. supply funds Of their
own to supplement the state and fed
eral funds. For example, the state
and federal funds pro-rated to the
counties in a given congressional
inaugurate on a large scale the con-
structton of the state highway roads
in that district, whereas the addi-
ton Of county funds would enable
the department to go forward al
once and complete the principal prof.
ects. Thus would the counties get
immediate benefits instead of wait
der the state highway law, every
county contributing to the construc-
ton of state highway project shall
be given credit therefor and when
the entire system (of 1890 miles,
has been completed, such counties
shall be entitled to refund of theil
contributions.
"The state highway board is firm,
ly convinced, after investigation
that every dollar invested in high
way improvement brings back $1C
in the form of increased land values
Lands in Florida which could be
bought for SIS an acre not many
years ago are now being sold fol-
500 an acre as the direct result OF
improved highways"
The detailed statement of federal
funds expended in Georgia in 1926
contains two columns of figures. One
column shows the amount of federal
funds expended in each county, and
the other column shows the total
expended in each county, ntine
federal, state and county funds al
together.