Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-24
GOOD ROADS MOVES
ARE BEING PUSHED

Two legislative measures affect
ing the good roads movement in
Georgia are being brought forcefully
to the attention of county commits
sioners, Chambers of commerce,
boards of trade, and civic organiza-
tions generally, by the state high
way department. The cooperation
of these bodies is being sought in
command the support of good roads
advocates in Georgia and thus aid
in the passage of the legislation by
the national congress.
The first measure is known as the
Dowell bill, which provides for the
continuance of federal aid for high
way construction and embodies prac-
tically all the features Of the Near
thur bill, which failed Of passage at
the last session only because 1t was
attached to the appropriation bill as
a rider and thus needed two-thirds
majority in the senate. The other
bill to which the state highway de-
partment is calling attention is one
providing for the sale to several
states, for highway purposes, Of sew
eral thousand caterpillar tractors,
automobile trucks, trailers and other
equipment suitable for road con-
struction and maintenance. This
equipment is now held by the war
department as surplus war material.
There are two federal aid highway
measures now pending in congress.
One is the Dowell bill already re-
ferred to, while the other is The
Townsend bill, which differs materi-
ally, in that it provides for the CON
struction with federal aid of two
main trunk highways in each state.
The Dowell bill, on the contrary,
provides federal aid for the construc-
ton of good roads in all parts OF the
state, and is in line with the sys-
tenn and policy already established.
The state highway department in
seeking the assistance of civic or
CARNATIONS for the passage of the
Dowell bill, is emphasizing the fact
that this measure provides federal
aid for highway construction in the
manner that gives the maximum
benefit to the maximum Of people.
providing for only two main trunk
highways, would benefit only a limi-
ted number also proving more ex-
pensive and being Of service princi-
pally in the handling of tourist
traffic.
tween the Townsend bill and the
Dowell bill, the state highway de-
partment, in the communication 60
ing out this week, says:
"The Townsend bill creates a fed
eraI highway commission OF five
members at a salary of $4,000 per
year EACH, without curtailing the
present expense in the bureau OF
public roads. The Dowell continues
the federal aid for the states under
the supervision Of the secretary OF
agriculture without additional oxer-
head expense.
1.-The Townsend bill gives the fed
eral highway commission exclusive
power to designate the roads in each
state which may receive federal aid
The other bill outlines no definite
system of roads, but limits federal
aid to interstate roads. The DOW"
ell bill provides that the state,
through their state highway depart
ceiye federal aid subject to the ap-
prevail Of the secretary of agrlcul-
ture, as is now the requirement I'M
der the present laws.
''In other words, the Townsend Dill
would build a few roads, very heaV-
ily paved, wide and expensive, to be
used by a few people, and a board
of five men in Washington would
determine the location Of these roads,
while the Dowell Bill would con-
tinue the great program already
launched, of building large number
of moderately priced, serviceable
communities of the several states,
location to be determined by the
state highway department inNconfer-
ence with the county authorities or
their respective states, and the maxi
mum benefits to be derived by the
peopIe Of the rural districts reaching
the market for their products"