The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1949-07-22
Don't Know" Says Commissioned
About Work On Jackson County Roads
Heated Session
Follows Hearing
In Gulfport Hotel

we just don't know, High
way Commissioner John Smith
answered to questions Wednes-
day night concerning widening
of Highway 80 through Jackson
county.
Mr.. Smith, a guest with the two
other district commissioners at a
dinner of the Gulf Coast Coun-
ell in Gulfport, said he did not
know when work would start,
where it would start, where il
would end, how much it would
cost.
I'VE are going to work to the
limit of our available funds" he
stated. He said he did not know
what funds are available.
Hydraulic Fills
Bids on permanent repairs be-
tween Gautier and Pascagoula,
however, will be let within 80
to so days." Mr.. Smith said. The
department is awaiting federal
approval of plans to replace the
bridges with hydraulic fills. The
project would require about
5000, 600.
On June /, Mr.. Smith said that
plans were being formulated to
widen the highway from the Har-
rison to the Mobile county lines.
John Kornrumpf, district engi-
neer. in a telephone interview
from Hattiesburg, said an asphalt
plant would be moved in and
work started at the Ocean Springs
end of the road.
Wednesday night Mr.. Smith in
Dictated that some widening work
would be done in Ocean Springs
at the behest of the Supervisor
and school officials"
Mr.. Smith said he did not know
exactly where this work would
be done, when it would be start
ed, how long it would take, how
much money it would cost.
Meeting Heated
AT several points the meeting
grew heated when Jackson and
Harrison county residents sought
answers to their questions.
81 just don't believe" said Rep.
Hermes Gautier. that this thing
is as big as some would have you
believe. Jackson county built that
road % years ago from one end
of the county to the other for less
than $1,000, 600"
Mr.. Smith interrupted: But
costs have increased greatly"
And so has the revenue from
the gas tax replied MI. Gautier.
There is nothing more import
ant in the state than Highway 80.
1t has absolutely got to be built"
The dinner followed a public
hearing in the Markham hotel
during the afternoon at which the
three commissioners conducted a
program on chow we can solve
our highway problems
Mr.. Smith said that I'VE have
got to have additional revenue if
Mississippi is to have another
road program"
1T is a dangerous thing" he
said, for an elected official to
talk about taxes. But we have to
face the issue courageously.
We are going to recommend
TO the legislative planning COM
mittee now investigating our road
needs that a special appropria-
ton be made for Highway 90"
22.ooo.o 900 Needed
Nh. Kornrumpf stated that $22,-
100000 would be needed to bring
Highway 90 up to standard, that
$4,000, 900 would be needed to do
the same for the entire Mississippi
road system.
S. T. Roebuck, Central district
commissioner. said that $500, 000,-
900 have been invested in TIL
states roads, that S83, 100000
have still to be paid out in bond
interest and principal before we
can start talking about borrow
ing more"
About 100 persons attended the
hearing. Also present we're Roy
Adams, Northern district COM
missioner: and R. A. Harris, chief
engineer of the department.
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