Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-05
John N, Holder Shows How
Issue Spent on Road Work
in Georgia Would Help
Employment

issue at once the pIOpOSSu pto,oVo''
600 of bonds to complete the state
highway system, it was pointed out
Tuesday by John N. Holder, the new
chairman of the state highway
board. in an address at a luncheon
given in his honor by Charles ].
Haden.
"Our state highway SYSTEM" said
Chairman Holder, consists of $500
miles of road. Of that amount,
about 1900 miles have been built,
and the balance of 1000 miles re-
main to be built. The highway de-
partment took over the whole $500
miles for maintenance on the first
Of January.
with the motor vehicle fund plus
the federal fund, we cannot build
very rapidly from year to year, but
with bond issue of $75,000,00O, as
proposed, the entire system could
be speedily completed.
81 am frank to say, however, that
I do not believe the people would
ratify a bond issue if it were SUBJ
mitted to them today. There is Il
great deal of information which
must be put before them before it
would be advisable to submit the
proposal to a popular vote. How
ever, better times are coming, a
brighter day is looming, and by
midsummer when the legislature
meets, I hope the sun Of prosperity
will be at the zenith.
Think what it would mean if we
could issue $75,000,000 Of bonds to-
morrow and start work at once.
Hundreds of mules and thousands
of men would be put to work. There
has not been a time in my recollec-
I ton when so many men were anx-
ious for work. We could build more
highways today with $75,OO0,00O
than ever before.
The Maintenance Problem
"In taking over for maintenance
the entire $500 miles of the state
highway system, the department has
got it's hands full. We won't have
any difficulty in building roads if
we have the money, for we have
a staff of very able engineers, but
the maintenance of roads is another
matter. We have got to find men
who know how to maintain roads.
In this connection I hope to see the
University of Georgia establish a
short course where men seeking po-
sitions in the maintenance branch
of the department can go and train
themselves and make themselves
competent. The other day I was
travelling over a road where a crew
of men were making repairs, ana the
work they were doing was hurting
the road, not helping it. That road,
however, was not a state highway.
1--WE must practice economy. Ev-
cry dollar we eXpend must obtain
for the people a dollars worth of
value. My experience has been that
the people will not complain if you
give them value received. But Of
course we do not want to practice
economy to such an extent as to
employ incompetent men because we
can get them cheap. That is false
economy.
'"This job I have taken is big
enough to absorb my attention, and
I propose to devote to it my entire
time. I have no object but to give
the people of Georgia, insofar as
lies in my power as chairman of the
board, a great state highway system.
For the next six years, which is
the length of my term, am going
to make highways my exclusive bus
mess. In fact, I am going to make
this work my life work. I hope to
succeed, for many reasons. In the
first place, to show my gratitude to
Governor Hardwick for selecting me
for a task of such Importance. Sec
ond, to show my gratitude to the
legislature for confirming his selec-
ton. Third, to show my gratitude
to the people of Georgia, our great
and beloved state.
Asks Cooperation
Il have not come into the depart
ment to tear down or disturb. MY
only desire is to help in perfecting
a great, efficient machine, where ev-
cry man will be indispensable. We
want the cooperation of the county
authorities, of the newspapers and
of the people. We want to give this
state a system of highways second
to none in the United States, a sys-
tenn which can be Travelled in winter
and summer. in dry weather and wet
weather. Give us your suggestions,
Go not withhold your criticisms if
you have any to make"
Governor HardWicl1, who followed
Chairman Holder, expressed his en-
tire confidence in the state highway
department, and the sense of relief
and qualification he felt when he
succeeded in persuading Chairman
Holder to lay aside his personal af-
fairs and accept the heavy respon-
sibilities of the position.
Under his leadership" said the
governor, 81 believe the department
will receive the complete and cor
| dial support of the legislature and
the people"
Governor Iardwicl agreed with
Chairman Holder that there would
<llave to be made q very extensive
campaign of Information and educa-
| ton before submitting the proposed
| state highway bond issue of SIC, 900.
| 600. at is such a great movement
and means so much for the state"
sad the governor, that it ought not
| to be defeated by a premature SUBJ
mission"
w. r. Neel, state highway engi-
neer, gave a brief and very inter
| esting review of the results so far
accomplished by the department, and
| pointed out it's leading future plans
| He empf sized especially the neces-
| sity for a constitutional amendment
authorizing the state, as a state, to
| engage III highway construction.
| Without this, he showed, Georgia
| can get no more federal aid after
| two years.
Everyone present at the luncheon
| showed the keenest interest in the
| highway movement. In addition to
| Governor Hardwick, Chairman Hol
der, Highway Engineer Neel and the
| general engineering staff of the de-
| partment, the guests included Joseph