The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-02
H|WAY DEPARTMENT
men WERE HERE
Conferred with Our Commissioners on
the Best Plan to Build Marion
County's Roads

Judge Phillips, chairman of the
state highway department, and Major
Browne, state highway engineer, held
a conference here this morning in the
courthouse with the board of county
commissioners for the purpose of max
ing arrangements for the construction
of the Dixie Highway, which is state
road No. z, and state road No. 5, thru
this county. As pointed out by Judge
Phillips, the highway department is at
present without funds. 1t being i'm
possible for the highway department
to make an appropriation of money
for the two roads in this county at
the present time the county commits
sioners have asked the department for
convicts, the necessary road building
machinery. an engineer and specifica-
tions for the roads Judge Philips is
TO call meeting of the department as
soon as possible to decide definitely to
what extent the requests of the coun-
ty commissioners can be met. The
SChC1aA pldh ptODOS@A I'D LA1clL LAAC
roads will be constructed under the
direction of the state highway de-
partment, beginning at the Lake
county line where the road is at pres
ent exceedingly bad. the roads to be
graded, drained and the base con-
structed with the idea that the top
dressing be put on later when the
state has the money available. This
plan of road construction, which calls
for the construction of sub-grade and
base and giving these time to settle
before putting on the top-dressing, is
meeting the approval of road engi-
neers and road associations through
out the country, according to Judge
Phillips.
Judge Phillips told the commissions
ers this morning that he was not in a
position to make any promises with
out consulting the other members of
the department. He stated that he
would call meeting of the depart
ment for as early a date as possible,
probably to meet in Ocala, and that he
would urge that every aid possible be
given this county. The judge stated
that the highway department expected
very shortly to adopt definite policy
for the construction of the highways
of the state and that this policy would
be to concentrate On the most impor-
tant roads and to complete them, in
stead of scattering the department.
efforts and resources. Judge Phil
lips said that in his opinion state road
No. 2 would be.one of the roads to be
covered by the new policy and said
this was one of the most important
highways in the state.
During the conference stress was
laid on The fact that the entire length
of the Dixie Highway and state road
No. through this county must be
built, that the recently voted bond is
sue was for this purpose and that the
bond money could not be spent TO con
struct one section of these roads only
1t is believed that the bond money
will be enough to build the roads will
the exception of the top-dressing anC
that in year or more the state will
be in a position to put the surface on
Judge Phillips will urge the state de
partment to complete the roads ant
said he had no doubt but that thi,
would be provided for. He said tina
the other members of the department
had expressed themselves as to the i'm
portance of the roads through thi
county.