The Brandon news., 1922-08-31


farmly established results OF
Democracy is the direct return OF
the money, paid by the people III
taxes. to the public in some concrete
form, from which all classes derive
benefits. The days when an lnef-
ficient and corrupt government
could bleed the people white by
taxes to support hundreds OF FAVOR
ties and politicians, returning moth
ing to the people are passes; at least
in this country.
The people reap the benefits OF
good government in hundreds OF
ways, direct and indirect, but 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 county mas
been the most important road build
ing unit in every state in the Union.
Practically 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 trafflc
was by OK cart and wagon, but with
the rapid evolution of the motor
vehicle, there came a corresponding
ly rapid increase in the need for
improved highways, until III July,
1916. Congress passed the Federal
Aid Road Act, which appropriated
funds to assist the counties in the
construction of rural post roads.
The passage of this act was
destined to cause new era in the
good roads movement from one end
of the country to the other. The
appropriation of these funds to aid
the counties in road construction.
necessitated the formation of State
Highway Departments, through
which the various counties of "a
state could apply for Federal aid.
Funds were allotted in this manner
until November 8, 1921, when the
time came for new appropriations.
In the discussion in Congress, it was
shown that millions Of dollars had
been wasted, due to the fact the
counties were not maintaining newly
constructed roads, and allowing
them to wear down until within two
or three years the original invest
ment was lost 1t was also shown
that changing conditions demanded
through connected highways, and
the counties were building stretches
of road in accordance with their in
dividual desires, Indifferent as to
coordination with adjoining counties.
Accordingly when the new law was
passed, it contained a provision re-
quiring the State to give to the
State Highway Departments control
over a State Highway System, con-
sisting of seven per cent of the
roads, upon which Federal funds
were to be expended, and which TO
be maintained by the State. States
in which legislation prevented the
State Highway department from
taking over these roads, were given
three years in which to enact legis-
latiOn enabling them to do so. Mis-
sissippi is one of these states. and
steps have been taken to pass this
legislation.
At its last session, the Legisla-
ture submitted to the people for baf-
lot at the November elections, an
amendment to Section 10 of the
Constitution, which gives the boards
of supervisors full jurisdiction over
roads, ferries, and bridges in their
respective counties. The amendment
would place seven per cent of the
roads, forming connected highway
system, in the hands of the State
Highway Commission for construct
ion and maintenance. This system
would connect every county seat
and center of population of six
hundred or more in the State, and
would be open for travel during the
entire year. Failure to adopt this
amendment will automatically close
this channel, through which approx
imately a million and quarter dol
lars are returned to the people of
Mississippi annually.