The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-02
STATE ROAD DEPARTMENT
HAS NO MONEY

HAS NJ MONE1
The following from the Miami Me-
tropolis win interest our taxpayers:
Members of the state road admins
tration in session in Miami, continued
consideration of projects Tuesday aft
ernoon and night until a late hour,
and held closed session today, which
concluded their meeting here.
1t was decided that Chairman Phil
lips, representing the board, will go
to Ocala, Marion county. and meet the
county commissioners with reference
to the portion of the state road sys-
tenn which is to be built through that
county. He will be accompanied by
the boards engineer, and will have au-
| thority to turn over to Marion county
whatever road machinery of the board
is available, and otherwise assist in
the construction of the highway.
The Marion county case was an IL
lustration of the situation In many
Florida counties. 1t is a case of the
state board having no money to spend,
but being willing and anxious to spend
the money raised by the counties of
the state. A representative from
Marion county (Mr. C. w. Hunter)
/ briefly addressed the board, stating
that Marion county had voted $500, 900
in bonds for the state road running
/ through the county. and that the state
board had agreed, by resolution some
time ago, to supplement such bond
issue by as much as $250,000 as might
be necessary to complete the highway.
The Marion representative asked
the board to send one of its members
to confer with the commissioners of
that county and advise them just what
the state board intends to do. Marion
county, he said, having voted the
bonds on the strength of promises
made by the state board, wants to
know whether the state board is in
position to carry cut its part of the
contract The estimate of engineers
was that s75O,OOO will build the road,
which is to be 4S miles In length.
Chairman Phillips informed the
Marion county representative that
"the department has no money to
spend" but is expecting some from
the take asnd federal aid. In lieu Of
money, the department would be will
ing to assist Marion county in spend
ing its own money derived from the
sale of the bonds if Marion county
will turn the funds over to the state
department to be spent. Furthermore
the road department of the state would
be willing to furnish Marion county
all the road building machinery which
can be assembled. including tractors
and trucks, with possibly some of the
state convicts as laborers. The board
instructed Chairman Phillips to go to
Ocala this week and settle the mat
ter with the county commissioners.
. During the discussion of the Mar
ion county situation it was stated
that Escambia county is ready to put
up its road money as soon as the
state department is ready with state
aid funds.
A contractor named Ackerman ap-
peared before the board asking pay
ment- of about $500 which he claims
as balance due on work performed on
roads during the past few years. II
: apepared that the whole amount Of
. his bill for work had been $50, 900, Of
; which $55, 700 had been paid, and the
remaining $1,000 is IN dispute because
Ackerman had used some Of the road
machinery Of the state and credit
on his bill was due on that account
! 1t further appeared in Aekerman'I
]. replies to questions Of one Of thf
t board members, that Ackerman per
formed the 100000 worth of worl
without contract.
1t was emergency work, he explain,
ed, at the time Of the food IN St
t Johns county, when he was ordered Il
|. repair the roads, I'LL washed places
2 and build shoulders to the roads fol
j some distance. His claim viii receiv
e further consideration by the board