The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-29
CUNT RACTs ID BE. LET. '0M HIGHWAYS. ALREADY SURVEYED.
More Draughtsmen Will Be EmpIoyed-Bridge Prof.
 eCt Not Abandoned
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU) s. THE AGE-HERALD


 In order that contracts may be awarded at once for the construc- tion of road projects throughout Alabama, the state highway com. mission .s will. employ additional draughtsmen with the approval of : Governor Brandon and viii put all projects which have been surveyed | ini such condition as to permit the awarding of contracts. This agree ment was reached Wednesday dur ing long conference between Gov ernor Brandon and members of the highway commissioner
 Governor Brandon was told by the commission that surveys have all ready ybeen completed in many coun- tries. but that the office force is rot sufficient to convert the surveys into blue prints. Governor Brandon replied that he will approve the easonable expense necessary in the Employment of additional draughts- :. men for such time as may be neces- sary in order that contracts for road construction work may be let.
 .Men nibers of the commission and Governor Brandon stated that the conference was, one of harmony . throughout and that an understand ing was reached whereby the road construction work will be carried on without delay.
 Of course, the letting of contracts
  was inaugurated because it was necessary for the commission and the new governor to reach some understanding about the work. This understanding has been reached REESE FERRY NOT ABANDONED.
 Reports broadcast during the day that the highway commission had abandoned the Reese. ferry bridge project on the Birmingham m. Mont ject in Walker county proved in- correct. While the commission did decide to construct as soon as pos stIe the link in the highway run ming from Jasper to the Marion county line, it did not reconsider its decision regarding the construction If the bridge on the Birmingham Montgomery highway and this work will be done as soon as all details are work ked out.
 During the conference with Gov ernor Brandon the commission ex- plained the necessity for. the com pletion of a large number of sur veys before actual construction work was started. The governor was told that it has been necessary for the state to protect in the best way possible the federal funds appor- toned to Alabama during the time when state funds were not aNallaple for the matching of the federal ap- rropriation. The federal government permitted Alabama to protect this ap,,ropriation by the completion or project statements which included actual surveys of the roads to be constructed, the project statements pledging the state government 10 make available it's portion Of the cost of the road when the time ar rived for construction.
 When such project statement was flied with the survey the government ! fts aside the amount to be avallaple i, hen the state matched the federal fund In this way, according 10 the commission, the state was able 10 protect every penny of the federal fiifd which had been apportioned 10 Alabama Had not the surveys been AIabama's part of the federal fund WouId have been reapportioned to other states.
 Under the agreement reached at conference additional draughtsmen will be appointed at once and large number of roads should be ready TOT construction by contract within three months.