The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1921-07-13
EXPENSES or THE HIGHWAY
DEPARTMENT.

seems to be a. studied movement III
both branches of the Georgia legis
lature to embarass and to retard the
work of the Georgia highway depart
ment, which to our way of thinking
| is functioning to better advantage, as
far as the people are concerned, than
any other one branch of the state gov
erment.
However, the movement seems to
have gained some Roadway and while
we are convinced that an investigation
means an unnecessary expenditure of
the public revenues, we would like for
the thing to happen in order to silence
this bunch, which seems determined
20 ruin the department.
On this subject the esteemed Angus
ia Chronicle very wisely says:
"They-in the Legislature ARE af-
ter the state highway department..
Somebody made the statement that
the department has an annual pay roll
of something ever 100000, and legis-
lators are asking for show down.
State Highway Engineer Neel, in a
statement to the Governor and the
General Assembly, maintains that the
operating costs Of Il e department are
not excessive.
Declaring that the department is
la strictly bushes organization, Mr..
Neel submits cost figures of overhead
percentage of the state highway de-
partments of thirteen states-engin-
eering and administration costs-in
which Georgia shows UP favorably.
These percentage costs are: Georgia,
5.S3; Alabama. 021: Arizona, 12.49;
California 1892; Connecticut, 6.S6;
Illinois, 9.65; Massachusetts,, 7.30; New
Hampshire, TIT; New York, 1880;
Ohio, '5.4S; Pennsylvania, $685. Rhode
Island, $40; washington Csc.
I'm making this showing, Mr.. Neel
submits facts and figures as to road
work in Georgia which are most inter-
esting. TH
"At. this time projects have been
completed and placed under mainte-
nance in every congressional district
and In flfty-three counties. The cost
and value of the work completed is
$8, 060, 444.97. This represents ninety
one projects the federal government
participating in all but seventeen.
! In addition projects are under con-
struction in every congressional dis.
trict and in los counties. The work
Is represented by 131 projects, the
estimated cost and value of which Is
$e.567,741.72. These projects would
average two-thirds complete: 100 OF
these projects are participated In by
the federal government, the compile.
ton OF which depends upon our ability
to continue to operate under law sat
isfactory to the federal government.
Work Is progressing rapidly and a
reasonable estimate is that three
miles of road are being completed
daily.
For fourteen months the cost OF
administration In Georgia is repre-
sented by LIE per cent OF the work
completed and the cost of engineering
as Ali per cent of the work complet-
ed. The latter percentage includes
the entire cost of surveys and plans
for completed work. work under con-
struction and the cost to the state OF
supervision In accordance with FEEDER.
al requirements.
'sThe Bureau OF Public Roads In
Washington set aside per cent Of all
appropriations To- maintain their cen
trail office at Washington and the
smaller organizations in each of the
thirteen federal road districts. This
3 per cent item. Is comparable to the
liz per cent item for Georgia. The
bureau make no surveys or plans OF
actively supervises any construction
with this per cent.
MIR. Neel says. further: The FEEDER.
al government being partner with
the state In the construction Of these
various projects. demands constant
supervision and willingly pays its pro
rata share of this expense. and has
expressed satisfaction with the super.
vision as supplied by the state and
never criticised our costs as being
high To the extent OF the government
participation IN project cur super
vision cost is reduced prorortionate
Ivy
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