The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1938-09-15
State Highway Dept.
Makes Statement
On. Road Paving
Complete Analysis Of
Available Funds Is
Published Today

With the assurance of sufficient
funds provided for the completion of
the unpaved roads on the priority
system, the interest of the people
are turning to the paving of the
roads as designated by the
legislature as secondary state
roads, of which there are forty miles
in Holmes County. Half of this
mileage, the 20 miles on U. S. 49-E
from Tchula to the south county line
toward Yazoo City, is specified by
the legislature as having priority
over other secondary roads, which
insures its paving. No such assur-
ance however, can be given for the
paving of the remaining twenty miles
of secondary roads, IL miles of which
is on Miss II from Durant to Lex
ington and miles on the same route
from Mileston to the west county
line toward Belzoni. Another three
miles is the road from U. s. 81 to
the Holmes County State Park.
Durant is assured of a paved road
on Miss IL through Attala county.
since that is also a priority road
on the secondary system.
Not having definite information as
to the source and purposes of all
the funds provided for the present
road program, there are many peo-
rle under the impression that the
entire $45;240.643 can be used to pave
the secondary roads. Such is not
the case, as only slightly more than
half of that amount may be used,
as shown by the following analysis;
State road bonds, $5O.000,000; less
refund of outstanding bonds, 20,185, 900;
net state funds, 39,815,000.
Federal aid, 4,444.634; Grade cross
ings 777,444; Feeder roads, 2O3, 565;
Total federal funds 5,425643; Total
State and Federal funds, 45,240,643.
Deduct funds not for secondary
roads: federal aid 3,333,634; grade
crossings. 777,444; Natchez Trace
right of ways, 100000; To complete
priority roads 10000. O00-21, 722 ;0zS:
Available for secondary roads 25-
51a,565.
In the construction Of some of
the roads in the eight counties which
did not participate in the first pro-
gram, the department may be per-
mitted to use some of the federal
funds.
On the state secondary system, as
n ION od hy Loo 81
are approximately 2,828 miles of
roads, of which about 225 have al
ready been paved, leaving about
$500 miles yet to be graded, drain
ed bridges built, right of way pur-
chased where relocations are neces-
sary and paved, and on which en-
cheering and administrative expense
must be paid. With only $23, ,595
available, there is provided an
average of slightly above
$4,000 per mile to make all these
improvements and it does not re-
quire engineering knowledge to see
that, if any considerable mileage on
the secondary roads are to be paved,
lower cost asphalt type of pave
ment must be used.
In the paving of the roads of the
priority system, the commissioners
followed a popular demand for high
type cement concrete and asphaltic
concrete pavement, some of which
went as high as $4,000 to $22,500
per mile for the surface alone. Should
there be a demand from the people
for such expensive types of paving
on the secondary roads, and this
demand should be followed by the
commissioners, the money would soon
be exhausted and comparatively few
of the 1900 miles of secondary roads
would be paved.
The legislature clearly demonstrated
its confidence, as well as the conf
dence of the people, in the highway
commissioners and the department
when a second large amount Of
money was provided for road cen
struction. This will possibly be the
last extensive road program in Mis-
sissippi for many years. since every
possible portion Of the states share
of the gas tax revenue Is pledged
for the payment Of the road bonds.
The above information Is given
to the public in order that It might
better understand the problems con-
fronted by the state highway COM
mission and the work 1t Is trying to
accomplish.