Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-23
FEDERAL EXPERT PRAISES
STATE HIGHWAY BOARD

the states in the amount of federal
aid you had obtained. Today you
stand fourth, exceeded only by three
of the largest states in the union III
point of highway development. This
shows the great progress your depart
ment has made 1t shows that your
department has been doing good work.
You have built your roads more eco
nomically than the average. cost of
all other roads in the country, type
for type"
Gives Comparative Figures
Mr.. Mcdonald here gave number
Of figures showing the average cost
compared with Georgia; the average
cost Of macadam and bituminous
roads in other states, as compared
with Georgia. the average cost or
sand-clay roads and gravel roads IN
other states as compared with Geor-
gia The figures showed that Geor-
gia's roads have been built cheaper
than the average. This impressed
the legislators very much, and they
applauded the figures with enthus1-
asm.
Mr.. Mcdonald gave a summary of
the conditions with which state
must comply to receive federal aid.
First. you must have a state
highway department, organized and
basis, so that it can perform the en-
gineering and supervising work re-
Quired by the federal bureau.
Second, you must match the fed
eral fund, dollar for dollar Where
you have no state fund adequate for
this purpose, as in Georgia, you can
match it with funds supplied by the
counties and placed in the hands of
the state highway department to ham
die for them. This is what you have
been doing in Georgia. Your state
motor vehicle fund is not equal to
your allotment of the federal fund
but your counties have matched the
federal fund. That is WAY your
large, well-to-do counties have OBJ
tanned the major portion of the fed
eral fund. When you amend your
constitution so as to issue state
highway bonds, as you plan to DO,
then your state highway department
will be in a position to turn the
federal fund into smaller, less well :
TODD counties which need 1T the most.
Third, you must maintain the
roads constructed with federal aid,
after they are Finished
AS to Compromise Bill
AS to the compromise bill drawn
Tuesday night by the compromise
committee representing both factions
of the highway controversy In the
mouse, MI. MCDOudlu CAplSoSNu III
opinion that it would not jeopardize
Georgia's participation in the fed
eral fund. This was the main source
of APPREHENSION in connection WIN
the bill. 1t it did not Jeopardlze the
federal fund, members OF the mouse
controversy. If it did, they wanted
to know what changes should be
made in it to safeguard the federal
fund.
a very comprehensive summary Oh
the work accomplished by the hlgn.
way department in the eighteen
months of it's operation. He, did not
contend that the department had
made no mistakes whatever, Tor no
body is perfect and infalllble, as ne
said. but he did assert that the show
ing made by the department. is a
creditable showing, and he welcomed
the suggestion of a special commit
tee to investigate the department.
as provided for in a resolution which
the house and senate have passed.
Paul S. Etheridge, chairman of the
Fulton county commissioners,
member of the executive committee
of the Georgia Association OF Coun-
ty Commissioners, told the leg1sla-
tors that the work of the highway
department has been thoroughly in
vestigated by that committee and
indorsed by the association.
President Herbert Clay, of the sem
ate, said the policy of the legislature
should be to advise with and seek
to improve and strengthen the high
way department, and not to tear it
down and detroy it because we don't
agree with everything it has done"
Representative Carsweu declared
he would never consent for the legis-
lature to take the motor vehicle fund
away from the highway department
and distribute it among the counties
to be expended by them as they saw
fit for local purposes. 1--WE can
not build a state highway system
that way" said he.
Senator Ellis and Representative
Turner spoke briefly in praise of the
work of the highway department.
After the adjournment of the dinner
many legislators gathered around
Mr.. Mcdonald and questioned him at
length on the different phases of
highway Development specially fed
eral aid, showing that they were
anxious to obtain complete and au-
thoritative information. All in all,
the dinner was the best yet given
by the automobile association to the
Legislature.