Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-01
COUNTY HIGHWAYS
LOSSES GROWING
Better Engineering and Not
More Money Held to Be
Prime Need.

The amazing fact that not over so per
cent Of the 5000 counties in thu United
States have county engineers, or quail
fed technical direction OF their road eX-
penditures, has been developed in con-
gressional hearings in connection with
drought relief and employment meas
ures.
Elm the face Of this SO per cent lack
in proper administrative and engineer
ing ability On county roads, the effort
continues" according to bulletin is
sued by the American Association Of
State Highway Ofhcials, mot only to
have capital diverted from main sys-
TENS to back roads. but to set up new
funds for so-cAlled farm-to-market
routes, and that without preparation
first being made for the safeguarding of
the new expenditures with State super
vision. Even in many of the 800 couIi-
ties that are credited with having COM
petent county engineers, State supervi-
sion does not go far enough to insure
the best and most economic use possible
Of additional highways capital"
Lack Of Ability Shown.
The slaring lack Of competent engi-
neering ability on county and township
systems was brought out by Thomas H.
Macdonald, chisf of the Bureau Of
Public Roads, United states Department
Of Agriculture. in hearings before the
Senate Committee on Drought Relief
and Unemployment.
MFR. Macdonald endeavored 10 show
that while additional employment for
labor could and was being supplied in
road building activities, there was need
for caution against extending the work
beyond the zones of State supervision
which would undoubtedly result in great
waste.
Questioned o. to whether any effort
was being made through public educa-
ton to bring to the attention Of States
and counties, particularly the latter, the
Importance Of better roads, Mr.. MacDon-
aid replied that decided movement Is
taking place by which the States are
taking over about the same type Of re-
sponsibility toward the counties as is
now exercised by the Federal Govern
mint with the States.
Under cross-fire of senatorial ques-
tions, Mr.. Macdonald was asked if 1t
was his judgment out Of his wide eXpe-
rienceS, that the States and counties
and the localities might be stimulated
should be Stimulated-to engage at this
time in the building of smaller roads
and roads Of lesser Importance"
mot by any action OF the Federal
Government" came the quick reply. II
have some conclusions" he proceeded.
THE Farm Bureau Federation, being
DESTROYS Of more miles Of improved
farm market roads discussed this ques-
ton with me. said at that time there
was little Use to put very much more
money into our local roads as whole,
until we have q better administration
Of the almost three quarters of q billion
dollars that Is now being expended every
nv a. 1caa
Expenditures in 1898.
Of the local road expenditures In 1929,
according to Mr.. Macdonald, $25e, 000,-
600 went into construction, $3.50, o00, 900
into maintenance and $223, ooo, 900 into
"other purposes"
At this point in the hearings, the fact
was brought out that despite the cry
that local roads were being discrim-
mated against in favor of town and
city-to-city connections, the local roads
in 1929 had an income Of S753 000, 900
as compared with State road Income of
1887 900 900.
Buttresslng this statement with fur
Their facts, the chief of the Federal aid
road building activities in the United
States made the unqualified statement
that there u q growing loss in county
governments in highway Improvement.
We have Just analysed road expendi-
lures for all the counties in one State. +"
he stated, and we found in this analy-
sis accumulations Of debts for recurring
expenditures which had been bonded,
until the Bonded debt service was in
fact annually requiring q very large part
Of the road income"
Better administrative and engineering
methods instead Of more money appears
therefore to be the first need on local
roads at this time.