Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-20
HIGHWAY BUILDING
OUTLAY INCREASES
Construction Work for 1880
Will Top Last Years Cost
by $3.50, 200, 900.

New highway construction alone In
the United States this year Is expected
to exceed the outlay for that class Of
public works last year by more than
$3.50 600, 900, which will bring the total
1880 expenditures for roads and bridges
constructed by the Federal, State, mu-
nicipal and other local governments
throughout the country close to 81, 75O,-
100000, according to a survey jGSt made
public in Washington by the Committee
on Recent Economic Changes of the
Presidents Conference on Unemploy-
ment. Among the many projects which
we're pushed ahead to offset business de-
preston, highway construction Is likely
to show the largest increases when final
records for 1890 become available, the
survey observes.
Expenditures Increase.
Actual expenditures for the construc-
ton and maintenance of bridges ana
roads, not including varcius overheads
and the cost of equipment and materials,
the survey states, rose from $784, 900, 900
in 1923, to more than 1927, 100000 in
1928, and the annual cost of mainte-
nance alone is now rapidly approaching
$500, 100000.
1t is pointed out in the survey that
the cost Of constructing and maintain
ing roads, streets and bridges in this
country now amounts to about 40 per
cent of the total expenditures on public
works.
The survey, begun last July at the
suggestion Of President Hoover for the
purpose of appraising public construc-
ton as a factor in business stability,
was prepared by DR.. Leo Wolman, sta
tistician and economist, under the au-
spices of the National Bureau of Eco
nomic Research, with the assistance OF
the United States Department of Com
merce. The survey, together with an
interpretatiye report signed by the Com
mittee on Recent Economic Changes,
has been published by the National Blu
reau under the title Planning and
Control of Public Works"
$9O, O0O, 900 Is Average.
Federal Government expenditures on
road building, including Federal aid to
States and forest roads, have averaged
about $90,000000 annually during re-
cent years, the survey notes. The APP
preparations for Federal highway con-
struction for 1881, 1892 and 1898 have
been increased from 5000, 900 to $685.
100000 annually. Last year the Fed
eral Government spent SOL, 212, 1876 on
States. Federal aid appropriations are
matched with State funds, the survey
explains.
Figures on income and funds avail
able for State and local highway and
bridge work contained in the survey
show that the main sources of meeting
the cost Of new State roads throughout
the country are motor vehicle fees and
receipts from the tax on gasoline, the
latter being the leading item.
Tax Fees Large.
Out OF income and funds available for
State roads during the years 1923-l928,
amounting to nearly $4,000, 900 900 In
that period, nearly $4,000, 100000 was
derived from motor vehicle fees and the
gasoline tax together, motor vehicle fees
providing about 81 ,265, 230, 900, and the
gasoline tax about $691 900, 900. Funds
Tor the gasoline tax, which totaled SIS
872,884 in 1923, had risen to 1924, 1853 1926
in 1928, being the leading item of
sources to meet highway construction
costs in that year. Funds provided by
the Federal Government in the 1929
1928 period were somewhat less than
$500,0 900.
For State highway and bridge build
ing, road taxes in the same period pro-
vided $ll3,124,697; State appropriations.
$194 ,067,624; bonds and notes. S647,-
100000: transfers from local authorities,
$459,S11,442.