The Depression Papers of Herbert Hoover

Press statement, June 20, 1931

In response to the President's request, the Federal Bureau of Roads has completed a canvass of the whole roads program of the country, with a view to determining the volume of construction during the current calendar year in its relation to employment.

This inquiry reveals that Federal aid for 1931 is $259,897,000, as compared with $105,648,000 for 1930, an increased Federal program of $154,249,000. It shows as well that expenditures during the year 1931 for Federal aid, state and local roads combined, will be $1,616,000,000, as compared with an expenditure of $1,601,000,000 for the calendar year 1930, increase of $15,000,000.

Some states have increased their expenditures in 1931 over 1930, while others have made decreases. The most notable instances of increases are:

Louisiana $34,450,000
Wisconsin 19,800,000
Illinois 10,250,000
New York 8,000,000
Minnesota 7,700,000
Texas 7,500,000
Kentucky 6,600,000
Michigan 6,500,000
Oregon 6,000,000

The total of all increases as shown in the accompanying table, is $167,072,469.

Several states, however, have materially decreased their road programs. The outstanding instances are:

Pennsylvania $29,800,000
Florida 21,150,000
Tennessee 17,900,000
California 13,900,000

The total of all state and local decreases for 1931 as compared with 1930, was $152,129,361.