The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-13
Six Millions Ln Road Work to Be Under Way By May I
 F Bond Issue Is Approved
Nearly Million and Half Federal Funds Already Avail able, and Surveys Completed for Awarding
 Contracts Says Keller

ernment continued the appropriation of federal money for road eonstruc- ton work, but 1t has not changed the system for the expenditure of the funds. The national government will continue to cooperate with the states in the construction of roads and bridges and will not conrine it's ac- tivities to roads selected by the na- tional government. The work will be done by the states in cooperation with the national government and under a joint supervision which will guarantee the construction of perma- nent. endurable roads at the least ex- pense possible to the people.
 What Adoption Means
 Tn order that the people of Ala bama may understand how impor- tant is the proper expression of Judgment at the ballot box January 30, It Is necessary that they know what a favorable vote will mean to the state now and In the future. At this very moment the bureau of pub lie roads In Washington holds project agreements with the state of Alabama which call for the expenditure of fed eral funds totaling S1.475,037.s7 in road and bridge construction work In Alabama. The state is unable to
 1- At'NA tAiS SoitAG dIIOuHL to naIcn this appropriation without the bond issue. The federal funds totallne this amount are available at this very moment, but they cannot be expended until the state has matched the amount. Surveys covering this amount have already been completed and have been approved by the fed- era bureau of public roads. The mo- ment the state matches the federal appropriation for this amount con- tracts can be let and actual construc- tion work started. This means that i the state and federal government will begin the expenditure of $2.950. .O75.74 on Alabama roads and bridges as soon as state bonds totaling one-haIf thls amount have been sold.
 President Harding approved the new highway appropriation bill last Wedhesday. This made available to Aiapama an additional federal fund or approximately s1.571,225. One third of this additional fund could be obtained now if the state were able to match it. The other two thirds will be available January |. Not penny of this fund can be spent on Alabama roads at this time for the reason that the state hasn't the funds 10 match the amount donated to this state.
 Surveys must be made of addi- tional highway projects and approved by the federal bureau of public roads before contracts can be let for construction work under the new ap- propriation. It Is probable that 1t VIII take three months after the highway bond issue has been author | ized by the voters to complete sur Iaf 4. bonds to cover the new federal ap- propriation and start work on the new projects. When this preliminary work has been done and the state has matched the federal appropriation the , additional amount which will be available foA road work in Alabama will be approximately s3.142,45O.
 Can Start Immediately
 "Therefore, it may be seen that Ala bama can start road construction projects totaling s6.os2,526.74 within three months after the voters have approved the bond issue, one-half of the amount being contributed by the federal government and one-half be- ing provided by the people of Ala bama through the bond issue.
 Tt is needless to call the attention of the patriotic people of Alabama to the value or this road construction work at this time. The advantages would be countless. It has been a pity that the state. through no fault of Its own, but through series of unfortunate incidents. has been un- able to begin it's great road construc- tion programme at time when prices of materials were at the low est point. A failure to start the work at the earliest possible moment would be accepted by others as reflection, not to be forgiven or forgotten, upon the state and the wisdom shown by 1 the people of Alabama in the bond election of 1920 and in all other mat ters of major importance to the state would belle any suggestion that the outcome of the election of January 20, 1922, is uncertain.
 The figures which I have given re- garding road work that can be start ed when the people have authorized l the bond issue do not include any project which is now under construc- | ton. The state and counties have been able to match the federal ap- | propriation covering every project for which q contract has been let.
 | The moment the state has sold bonds in sufficient amount to match l federal money now available and available January l new road projects calling for construction work to the | value of approximately $6,092,525.74