Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-22
H1ghzvayS Sh02v
Splendid Improvement
During Year OF 1920

In connection with the grea'
southern automobile show to be hello
in Atlanta from March to IL, with
the greatest display of motor We
hicles ever assembled in the south
it is interesting to note that high
way construction in Georgia in the
past fifteen months has placed this
state in the very front rank among
all states in the union.
During the year 1920 the state
: highway maintenance. The volume
Of construction handled in this state
lifted Georgia from sixteenth place
to fifth place among all the states
The expenditures made by the
highway department, as above stat.
ed, were combination of county
funds, motor vehicle funds put W
by the state, and federal funds.
There were built in Georgia in
1920 a total of ia miles of paved
road, more than 800 miles of SAND
clay road, dozen bridges of great
Importance, and over 100 miles OF
road were taken over by the state
nance.
For 1921 the highway program
cannot be presented with absolute
certainty for the reason that con-
gress has not yet passed the pend
ing bill providing. for continuance
of federal aid. The house has pass
ed the bill and the senate will de-
termine it's fate between now and
the adjournment of congress on
March 4.
sioners, chambers of commerce, au-
tomobile organizations and other
civic bodies, has urgently requested
Senator'S Hoke Smith and William
J. Harris to exert themselves to
he IL, hoho1f nf tho hill n
insure it's passage before congress
adjourns. The two Georgia SEN
ators are whole-heartedly complying
with these requests, as both are
strong advocates of better high
ways.
Larger Program.
If the bill goes through, Georgia's
larger than the one in 1920. If the
bill fails to pass, Georgia will lose
her share of the federal funds, and
so will the other states, and Georgia's
program will be substantially cut
down on that account. Indications
are, however. that the federal aid bill
is not to be s1detracked by the senate.
Pursuant to it's policy of providing
the largest possible mileage of SER
viceable roads with available funds.
the state highway department this
year will rapidly take over the bulk
of the 4,4O0 miles of road constitut-
ing the state highway system.
w. r. Neel. state highway engin-
eer, made the statement yesterday
that the department. by the middle Of
spring, will be at work in every coun-
ty in the state. Where it does not
and it's maintenance work will be so
handled as to make it a preparation
for later building.
These facts demonstrate that Geor-
gia is not tagging in highway con-
struction, but on the contrary, is
forging to the very front rank among
the progressive states of the union.
Other states having far smaller area
and far greater population, which
gives them far greater funds to ap-
ply upon far smaller mileage, have a
tremendous advantage over Georgia
making any hard luck excuses or
putting up "a poor mouth" when it
comes to highway building. She is
going right ahead with her available
funds, planning scientifically for a
state-w wide system of 4,400 miles link
the farmers of every county with
maximum facilities for reaching their
markets.
From an automotive standpoint, no
state in the union offers the pros
poets of greater future development.
Georgia's motor vehicles last year in
creased about $4,000 over the year
before. The 1920 registration of 49,
900 is expected to reach at least 160-
900 in 1921. Merchants in the princi-
pal cities have practically abandoned
horse-drawn vehicles for all delivery
and hauling purposes and are using
motor trucks. Passenger We
hicles are almost as common in the
rural sections as they are in the
towns and cities. AS the roads are
made better. more and more farmers
are buying cars for combination
of business and pleasure.
Not only in respect to motor We
hicles, but also tractors. is Georgia
advancing most remarkably. Thou
sands of farmers in all parts of Geor-
gia are using tractors for all heavy
turning Of their lands, and converting
the tractors into stationery power
plants for operating threshing ma
chimes. corn grinders. pea and pea
nut hullers, feed choppers. wood
saws, etc.
Georgia and other southeastern
states are universally recognized as
one of the two main touring sections
Of the winter season. The motor
magazines at this season of the year
are filed with maps, pictures and ar
ticles devoted to winter tours. and
California and the south are present
Ell in all of them as the two proper
places to go.