Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-29
GOVERNOR FINISHES
THREE-COUNTY TOUR

good roads question and went on
record as favoring the submission Of
statewide highway bond issue in
the general election Of 1924, provided
normal prosperity has returned by
then.
The discussion Of good roads was
particularly timely and interesting
to the people Of the mountains, who
have long been isolated because of
almost impossible roads, and there
fore, their very remoteness has re-
tarded their educational and social
development. They are now keenly
aroused to the necessity Of good
roads and no people in Georgia are
stronger for modern highways than
are these mountain people.
Senator Pat HARRISON, of this dis
trict, is a most enthusiastic good
roads worker, and a few years ago
when it was necessary for the coun-
ties to float bond issues to match
the federal fund he rode all over
these mountains explaining to indi-
Vidual mountaineerS at their homes
the Importance Of passing the bond
issues, with the result that the
bonds were overwhelmingly voted
and good roads have become a pas
sion with the people. 1t will not
be their fault if all highways lead
ing into these mountains are not
graded and top-soiled within the
next few years. They are bending
their energies in that direction and
are accomplishing wonderful results.
H. w. Morgan, division highway
engineer for the Ninth congression-
al district, has overcome many very'
great difficulties and obstacles and
is rapidly grading out the main
roads through the mountains. How
ever, there is still much to be done.
Governor On Bonds
Discussing the proposed bond is
sue for highways Governor Hard
wick said:
81 frankly advised the promoters
of the proposed $75,000,000 bond is
sue for highways that I did not
believe they could get it through at
the last session of the legislature.
In my Columbus address several
months ago I declared I did not
believe the time was ripe for sub
hitting such a bond issue. Times
were too hard. I expressed the
opinion that the legislature would
not submit such a proposition to
the people and my judgment was
indicated.
1.-THE state has suffered in a fl
nancial way under deflation and
boil weevil conditions. 1t was i'm
possible to get the people to back
a bond issue at this time. However,
times are improving. With fair
crops and fair. prices I hope that
after this fall the worst will be
over. believe that as soon as some
thing like normal prosperity returns
the people will take up and dispose
of the good roads question by pass
ing a bond issue sufficiently large
to take care of comprehensive
system of highways.
"Of course, when they come to
dispose of this question they will
inevitably and irresistibly favor a
bond issue and I believe with some
Improvement and safeguards the
general plan already proposed can
be employed. The amount of the
bond issue must of necessity be gov
erned by the funds available for
sinking fund and interest. These
funds can be provided by a diver
sion of the gasoline tax and auto
mobile license tax to care for them.
If necessary the gasoline tax can
be increased to two cents a gallon.
In normal times a two-cent tax
would do no particular harm and
work no particular hardship. The
tax of one cent a gallon now brings
into the treasury about $1,000,000
a year, and a two-cent tax would
bring two million. This two million,
o66 fn hn
from automobile taxes, would make
four million dollars a y -r avail
able, and after December 1, 1926,
when the discount contract for the
rentals of the w. & A. r. r. ex-
pire another half million dollars
would be available
Urges Bond Safeguards
"My opinion is that it will be nee
essary to strengthen the proposal
made to the legislature this year, so
as to give ample safeguards. AS
large a percentage as possible of the
money must be actually expended on
the roads and as little as possible for
no waste and extravaganza in the
administering of these funds.
IF normal prosperity returns, as
we have every reason to hope and
expect, see no reason why pro-
-posal Of this kind cannot be submit
ted in the general election of 1924.
I certainly hope so, because no ques-
ton is more vital to the state than
this and no public Improvement can
compare with good roads.
81 do not think there is any need
to be alarmed about losing any fed
eral aid funds. The federal act pro-
vides that after 1928 the United
States government will no longer
match county funds. Confronted by
this situation only one course is left
open to us-that is, for the legisla-
ture next summer, to repeal the
maintenance law of 1921, by which
the bulk of the 100000 derived
from automobile license taxes is de-
voted to maintenance, and match the
federal funds with state funds de-
rived from automobile license taxes.
I'm that event the counties would
have to provide for maintenance,
and would be relieved from matching
construction funds.
II have been deeply impressed by
this trip through northeast Geor-
gia that with the right kind Of hard
surfaced roads this part Of the state
can be made the play ground Of the
southeastern section Of the country,
the Switzerland Of America. In beau
ty Of scenery, excellence Of climate,
clearness and freshness Of air and
water, it is unrivalled in the world
today. People from all over the
eastern part Of our country will OBJ
tain health and recreation and re-
newed strength from their vacations
in these Mountains