The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-10-19
Federal Highway Aids Helps
SOlTe Unemployment Problem

Funds making possible the employ
ment Of from 100000 to $4,000 men
for one road building season are APP
propriated by the Federal highway bill
at present in conference and expected
TO pass congress within the next Jew
days.
The bill, agreed upon BY the confer
ees, carries a s75.00O. 900 appropriation
of which $4,000, 900 is to be available
for distribution among the states, as
Federal aid in road construction when
the bill becomes a law and 5000, 600
six months later. In addition, $1,000
600 IS to be Immediately available for
National Forest roads and s19.000.000
more on July first, 1922.
The Federal aid appropriation VIII
be distributed and administered under
the supervision of the Bureau of Pub |
lie Roads. United states Department
Of Agriculture. In continuing the OPP
Grafton Of the plan the government is |
taking step that should have far
reaching effect in relieving the pres
ent Unemployment situation and in
some states it viii make possible the
continued employment Of men who
otherwise would be thrown out of
work and thus swell the ranks of the
idle.
This Federal money is to be match /
ed BY funds under the direct control
of the State highway department.
When SO matched, and in many cases
the states have taken action and are
simply awaiting the availability of the
government appropriation-it is esti- |
mated that it will make possible road
work which will give employment to !
from 100000 to $50, coo men for six
months distributed over the period re-
auired to spend the money. This es-
innate of employment includes men
employed on actual construction and /
in additional men employed in pro-
ducing and hauling materials.
TO get the benefit of federal road |
building funds, each state must APP
propriate at least as much money as |
is allotted to it by the Federal Gov
eminent. with the exception of a few T
states having unoccupied public land /
TO the extent OF more than 5 per cent /
Of the states area. In these cases,
the states share is reduced Thel
states share must be under the di- /
rect and sole control Of the state gov +
eminent. No money controlled in any |
way by county or local officials can be
used to match federal funds. Provis- I
ion also must be made for the main
tenance of all roads built in partici- /
patton with federal aid, by the state
government.
Some states have not had state con-
trolled funds heretofore and have been
matching federal aid money under the
previous law by using county or focal /
funds derived from bond issues or the
proceeds of automobile taxes. The
new law will provide that if this prac- i
tice is continued the local funds must
be placed under the control Of the
state. subject to no Withdrawal. In
most states, however. the question has
been agitated and there have been
proposals for raising state controlled I
funds for road building. In view Of I
the need for good roads. the unem-
ployment situation and the fact that
states allotment will be apportioned
among other states If the provisions
Of the act are not complied with in
three years, immediate legislative ac-
ton would seem desirable in all the
states which have not complied with
the requirements of the new measure
governing federal aid.
The effect on the unemployment
situation will not be delayed. however,
until legislative action is taken in ali
states Thirteen states have reported
to the department that their highway
work is being delayed because they
have exhausted previous allotments
of federal aid, or that they are hold
Ing work planned in anticipation of
the new appropriation. Other states
are preparing enlarged programs of
road construction.
In virtually all cases. tfesa are the
more populous states which receive
large allotments and already have
taken the legislative action necessa-
ry to meet the requirements of the
federal highway measure. These
states are simply awaiting final adop-
ton of the conference report by con-
gress and the presidents signature to
the measure to begin the use Of their
allotment. It is a fortunate condition
that the states with the largest allot-
ments, and which can proceed at once
with road construction. are the states
where unemployment Conditions are
probably the worst
Federal aid funds in the past have
been matched with considerably more
than an equal amount Of state money
1t may reasonably be expected that
with s75,0000O0 for federal aid. at
least an equal amount Of state money /
and s15.000 600 for national forest /
spent in road construction to which
some extent by state funds. that from
roads which will be supplemented to
$685. 900 900 to s200.OO0,OOO will be ]
federal aid contributes.