The Washington times., 1922-05-27
U.s.. To SPEND
S68O,OO0,000
ON HIGHWAYS
Funds Represent Gain OF $751;
100000 Over 1921.
State Sums Increased.

Highway construction and main
tenance funds available for expendi'
ture in the United States during
1922, exclusive of city streets,
amount in round numbers To about
$3.50, 900, 900, an increase OF ABOUT
| $63, 900 900. or about 2er cent over
corresponding figures for last year
writes M. o. Eldredge. in American
Motorist.
This amount is made up as follows:
Federal aid, $126, 900, 900. which in
cludes SIS ,OO0,o 900 appropriated by
Congress for the year and accumu'
lations from previous appropriations
State funds derived IRON various
sources, S267,O00, 900; county and
local funds, $271 900, 900. In view OF
the depressing financial condition
through which the country Las pass
ed during recent months, this is
Father encouraging sign and indi'
Gates that a determined effor. is be.
ing made in most of the states 10
sRve the highway transportation
problem and at the same time pro.
vide employment for many OF the
millions OF men who are now out oil
work.
The Federal highway act, approved
November 8. 1921. provided mat
hereafter the States shall furnish
the money with which to mcct Fed
eral aid or that they shall have COM
plete control over the funds thus
used. A review of the financial sit.
uation from the standpoint OF state
funds may therefore be not amlss.
State Funds Available.
As above indicated. the State funds
available for 1922 to meet Federal
aid and local contributions amount
approximately to $275. 900, an
increase of about s43, 10000 or 10
per cent, more than WAS available
from the same sources turing lJ&l.
These funds were derived, first,
from special or general Statewide
taxes; second, legislative appropTia.
tions from special or :eSTla" Iunds;
third. State bonds; fourth, automo-
bile revenues; and. fif:n, gasoline
taxes, and other special funds.
A State wide highway SX. vary
ing from one.tenth to three e'and one
half mills on the dollar, Is now levied
in twenty-five States. yielding ap-
proximately $21 200. 900. which Is q
decrease over receipts from last year
of about SIS, 100000.
Annual appropriations from gen.
eral or statutory funds for State or
State aid road work and to meet
Federal aid are made by the legisla-
lures OF sixteen States. The amount
available from this source during
1922 is approximately $4,000, 900,
which is about $5,OOo,oo less than
was appropriated for last year.
Funds derived from State road
bond issues in eighteen States avail
able for expenditure in 1922 amount
to sos, 100000. which is an increase
| OF about S43 900 900 over last wear.
The total recent State bond issues
or authorization for bond issues
| amount to approximately $496, 300.
900. Recent county issues amount
will be spread over a period OF years.
Used on Road Repair.
In all Of the States the revenue
| derived from the registration OF mo.
tor vehicles, which now amounts to
about 1922. .000,00O a year, Is used in
whole or in part for State or State.
aid road purposes.
In twenty-eight States the net re
ceipts from registrations are utilized
! by the State highway departments.
mainly for the maintenance of State
and Federal aid roads. From 25 to
| 10 per cent OF the registration re
ceipts are retained or returned to the
counties or municipalities in twenty
! States. In some cases this money is
judiciously expended, mainly for
maintenance of the more important
roads, but as a general rule money
| thus returned or retained is wasted.
The total amount available to the
! States from this source for 1922 will