The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1921-07-17

r0prononS1Dlo eHOTL from S6VoTdl sour
ces to injure and retard the work OF
the Georgia Highway department. II
was an ill-advised movement having
in view the tearing down of the best
organized and most sepviceable adj
junct Of the whole state government
I We are quite sure that Georgians
in all sections of the strife will agree
with the esteemed Atlanta Constitu-
tion, which discussed the subject as
follows:
"The house committee on highways
is to be warmly commended for kill
ing all of the various bills before it
seeking, in one way or another, to
tear down the statewide highway sys-
tenn in Georgia. and to destroy the
power of the highway de-
partment.
"That the committees action was
makes the initial victory
for a continuation of constructive
state program all the more complete.
1t is assumed that the committee on
agriculture No. 2, that has before it
the Davis bill, which is in effect the
old knight bill of year ego to divide
the motor fund among the counties,
will use the same axe, particularly
after having the storm of protests
from every section of Georgia that
broke upon it at its joint session with
the highway committee on Thursday.
1.-THE action thus far indicates that
this legislature Is not going to be
stampeded into tearing its great road
building program to pieces.
From all sections of Georgia pro-
tests are being made against the chan
ges proposed in the existing highway
laws.
1.-THE suggestion that the motor We
hicle fund, which forms the only
state aid available for a statewide
road system, and for the utilization of
the federal aid, shall be distributed
among the counties upon a basis of
road mileage, is shown to be particu-
larly Objectionable.
1.-THE commissioners of thirtyflve
counties In the state were represent
ed in the committee hearing Thurs
day as opposing any such scheme.
They swarmed upon the assembly,
without any concert OF action, In vol
ume that was unmistakable in its
force.
For years Georgia's road building
was confined to counties with only a
state direction; and the
result was crazyquilt, patchwork
highway situation that did the state
no good, and the individual counties
but little more.
Highways under such system,
had no starting and no ending points.
They meant nothing in linking up an
interstate road system, for the reason
that chain Is no stronger than its
link; and thorough passage
on a highway could not be possible IL
even one county refused to connect.
Under those conditions, too, the
tds that haze bean 80 gurE IL,
calculable benefit in post.road deyel-
could not be utilized. Many
will remember that for two
years after the federal postroad law
was passed. when other states In the
union quickly adopted statewide pro-
grams and began to flourish with their
road systems. Georgia stood perfectly
still. without being able to move a
peg. practically, and all because there
was no state aid TO match the federal
aid, and thus make available the mon
ey that was apportioned to this state
by the government. and to which the
state was Justly entitled.
Nor until the present highway sys-
tenn was established, and state fund
created BY which the federal fund
could he secured and connecting
inter. and intrastato system devised
and planned and program put into
execution. has Georgia's road develop.
ment been worthy OF the name.
ITO contemplate that there Is now
even a serious disposition to tear down
this system, In It's formative period,
and ia throw away the great work that
has been accomplished, by leaving il
indeed. TO contemplate
that Georgia will drop back into her
archaic methods of the past is un.
thinkahle.
"if there Is anything wrong with the
administration Of the highway depart
ment that wrong should be corrected.
II there is anything wrong with the
overhead expenses that should be
found out aud corrected Legislative
committees have hecn appointed log
those Investigations Let's assume
they viii do their work well. and re
port tratAtuily their andings. Thai
.ave - fha vffsafs.., fharafas.e will