The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-18

ing, OF course, the Choctahatchee
bridge and both counties are partici-
pating in this and the department,
think, will spend about $100,000.00 Of
their money on the bridge; about ST.,
10000 in OkaloosaS in Santa Rosa
probably 100000 on roads but We
build a bridge for them. Escambia
county has nothing as yet but a prom
Use of $3.50, 10000 on their bridge. Jack
son county has nothing up to this time
but we have recently begun work here
with convicts on a fifty-fifty basis.
Gadsden county has recently got the
promise of $25.OO0.o0. Walton county
has received nothing.
From this you can see we are not
getting large appropriations as the
roads here are all being built of sand
and clay. claim the Apalaohicola
river bridge project is a national and
state project and not chargable to To-
cality. I investigated the department
records some time last year to see
what was really being spent in the
third congressional district and found
that there had been paid out to them
as per statements given me by our
secretary from federal aid funds, to
this district, from the beginning, S165,
$4,000, from the gas and oil fund $40
10000 and from state money $240, 600
90, making a total spent in this dis
trict $445, 94S.oo. At that time we had
1T convicts in four camps in all Of
which three were white convict camps
Then there Were $50 eonYicts in the
state. If we had gotten out-fourth Of
them, which would have been no less
than we should have had, we would
have had 1872 convicts. We had paid
into the state miEage for road $2S2.-
10000. If federal aid had been given
us as the government distributes it TO
the states we would have had at least
$800,000.00 of one-fourth of what the
state received from the government
Besides we should have had our share
Of the oil and gas tax You see We
must be sponging on the rest of the
state. as some seem to believe. We
received only $445, 948.00 from these re-
sources, being short at least $500 GOO
90 or more.
When it comes to government equip
ment the third congressional district
is still worse off For instance out
OF fifteen Holt trajctors, we got ons,
Other equipment gotten by us was
about on the same basis.
l don't believe that you will fine
am far wrong If you investiga'e
these matters. OF course at this time
the figures will run up more but We
will have more due US from the rev
enues OF the department and it VIII
be about the same ratio. We are
working now $50 convicts in the state;
we have five camps in the third con-
gressional district but should have 81
least seven for our share. Also om
section furnishes the negro convicts
principally, one of these is worth
dozen of some OF the white convlc's
they put in West Florida that we get
from your cities.
West Florida is not getting the
"lion's share It is also true maj
counties in South Florida and other
sections of the state have received
nothing-some very little, and I nave
never believed 1t was right, as some
argue, to concentrate our money to"
much in one place. 1 believe in DIS
tributing it in some fair equitable
basis. something like the federal ala
comes to the states according to popu-
IaCiOn, area. mileage an rural rodu9'
do believe in opening way for tour
lists reasonably good. but mainly our
attention should be first turned 10 the
relief, as much as possible. Of me
grower and producer who are the most
burdened classes Of people living. /
believe in giving them as many g"ol
roads as possible that he can nave
access to better markets, churches ara
school. He is today the princ'P7..
subject of oppression on accoun. o.
outrageous freight rates made BY ne
combination of organized labor ah1
organized capital which are being up
held by the strong arm at Wasn.Hg
ton"
81. d. SMITH
Member State Road Department
Third Conversational District.