Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-08-17
STATE HIGHWAY NEWS.

STATE HIGHWAY NEWS.
Construction work on the Missis-
sippi links of the great National
Highways which traverse this State,
is progressing rapidly, it has been
announced by the State Highway De-
partment. These highways, the
Mississippi Valley Highway, the
jackson Highways and the Old Span
ish Trail, connect Mississippi by di-
rect route with the entire Mississippi
Valley and the Middle Western States,
and the southern section of the Uni
ted States, from the Atlantic to the
Pacific Coast. These highways are
of the utmost Importance to the pros
perity of the State, since they provide
arteries through which traffic can
flow in and out of the State to all
sections of the country.
If one link of one of these great
highways is allowed to be worn
down by traffic and the elements,
until it is passable only in the best
weather. it will defeat the entire OBJ
iect of the highway, for "a cham IS
no stronger than its weakest link. +"
Yet, there is danger that this may
become the condition of the Missis-
sippi links. Unless the proposed
constitutional amendment. giving the
State control over State Highway
System, is adopted by the people at
the November elections, these high
ways viii not be maintained in the
condition of construction, with inn
provement shown from year to year.
Under the present constitution, the
boards of supervisors have full Jurls-
diction over roads, ferries, and
bridges in their respective counties.
The amendment would change this
slightly, giving the State control ov-
er State Highway System, which
would not exceed seven per cent OF
the total highway mileage, and re-
lieving the counties of the burden of
maintaining the main trunk high
ways. Under the present haphazard
system of maintenance, the counties
are responsible for the condition OF
the roads within their respective
limits, and the through highways are
not considered as whole, but IN
small sections, in some places only a
few miles. Often time, difficulties,
financial and otherwise, cause these
roads to be neglected for period OF
time sufficiently long to allow the
roads to wear down to such de-
gree. that the expense Of repairs
would practically construct a new
road. Under the amended law, these
highways would be part of State
HIGHWAY system, connecting every
county seat and center OF populatlo,n1
in the State, and this system would
he maintained in the best condltion
possible during the entire year. IN
this way, the' most important trunk
HIGHWAYS in the State would receive
the attention of trained and ex-
nerienced engineers, who would pc
in position to watch the roads close.
Nv. and to act immediately IN case OF
need of repairs. This would relieve
the counties of the expense OF NAM
tanning these trunk highways upon
the automobile owners. since tney
are the ones who will be benefited.
This does not mean only Mississippi
automobile owners, but the thou
sands of tourists who pass over the
highways annually, will pay a large
mart in the form of gasoline and
sutomobie owners, but the thousands
of tourists who pass over the high
wav annually, will pay a large part
in the form of gasoline and are-.1no-
bile tax. This tax will be more than
repaid however, by the money saved
from tires, gasoline, and general wear
and tear on the car.
This system is at present under
and its completion de-
pends upon the continuation of Fed
eral Aid allotments, bv means of
which large part of it is being con-
structed. Unless this amendment IS
adopted, these allotments will cease,
since the Federal Highway Act OF 1921
REQUIRES that within three years after
the passage of the Act, all of the
States shall give the Highway Depart
ments control over a State Highway
which Federal may be
This is required by the
government to insure maintenance OF
roads, for the construction of which
federal funds have been spent. From
1915 to 1921, millions of dollars were
literally thrown away, due to failure
|of the counties to maintain newly con-
|structed roads,, and the Government
resolving to avert this in the future,
had inserted the maintenance clause
in the 1921 concentrations