The Southern herald., 1922-09-01
From State Highway Dept.

mocracy is the direct return OF tie
money, paid by the people in tax
es, to the public in some concretel
form, and which all classes derive
benefits. The days when an in
efficient and corrupt Government
could bleed the people white byl
taxes to support hundreds Of favor
ties and politicians, returning no.
thing to the people are passed; at !
least in this country.
The people reap the benefits OF
good government in hundreds of
ways, direct and indirect, bat one
of the most important channels
through which the Government;
city, county, State, and Federal is
today returning the taxes, is in
good roads In this respect the
work Of the city is limited to the
city, and affects only the city, but
the country has been the most
important road building unit in
every State in the Union. Practi-
cally all the roads built up to six
years ago were the direct result OF
effort on the part of the counties.
This was well enough when traffic
was by OK cart and wagon, but
with the rapid evolution OF the
motor vehicles, there came cor
respondingly rapid increase in
the n eed for improved highways,
until in 1916, Congress passed the
Federal Aid Road Act, which ap'
propriated funds to assist the
counties in the construction OF
rural post roads.
The passage Of this act was de.
stined to cause a new era IN the
good roads movement from one
| end of the country to The other.
The appropriation Of these funds
I to aid the counties in road construc
ton, necessitated the formation oI
State Highway Departments, thru
which the various counties OF Q
state could apply for Federal Aid
Funds were allotted in this man
ner until November 8, 1921, wher
the time came for new appropria
tions. In the discussion in Con
gress, it was shown that million!
of dollars had been wasted, due tt
the fact the counties were no
maintained newly CONSTRUCTED
roads, allowing them to wea
down until within two or thre
years the original investment wa
! lost. 1t was also shown tha
; changing conditions demandet
through connected highways, AM
! the counties were building stretcl
4 OF roads in accordance with thei
individual desires, Indifferent a
, to co ordination with adjoinin
8 counies, Accordingly when tn
. law was passed, it contained a pr
: vision requiring the State TO Civ
J, to the State Highway Department
= control oyer a State Highwa
System, consisting OF 7% Of tn
]. roads, upon which Federal fund
:. were to be expended, and whic
a was to be maintained by the STATE
a States in which legislation prever
9 ted the State Highway Depar
ment from taking over these road
r were given three years to enaC
r legislation enabling them to do 81
+ Mississippi is one Of these States
r and steps haye been taken TO pas
It this legislation.
e AT its last session, the Legisli
IS ture submitted to the people fc
q ballot at the November election
# an amendment to Section ITO I
It the Constitution, which gives tt
n boards of Supervisors full iuri
. diction over roads, ferries, an
n bridges in their respective coul
q ties. The amendment would plat
seven per cent Of the roads, torn
= ing a connected highway system
y in the hands Of the State Highwa
N Commission for construction ar
d maintenance. This system won