Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-02-20
County Highways.
rENNEssEE's PLAN TO SECURE BETTER
ROADS.

| ROADS.
The State of Virginia, ard indeed al
most every State in the Union need better
public highways, and now that Virginia
lis forging ahead in many things, the
question of good county roads becomes
one of the very greatest Importance, and
one that must be acted on.
Senator John g. Carlisle in recent in
terview, SAID: easy communications be-
tween neighborhoods are of the greatest
Importance, and nothing makes the real
property Of any community show more
advantageously than good roads. Many
of the subjects of complaint, at the pres
ent time, come from unequal intercourse.
In view of the fact that better roads
have become necessity in Tennessee the
State Congress held at Nashville, last
August, drew up and adopted the follow
ing plan which has been submitted to the
Legislature. The State of Virginia must
meet this question, and careful study Of
the Tennessee idea may result to our adj
vantage. The report of the committee
reads as follows:
l. The placing of the control of the
highways and bridges in each county IN
the hands of a highway commission
composed of three members elected by
aud responsible to tho county court.
9 The requirement that all appropri.
ations shall emanate from and be reported
back to the county court.
g. The execution of all works under
the supervision of an engineer.
4. A provision that work shall be exc
cuted in accordance with carefully dl-
gested system, which, once adopted, shall
be adhered to, thus securing ultimately
permanent work of high character.
5. The support of the highways OF each
county to be derived fiom property tax
levied on all property in the comfy,
whether within or outside of incorporated
towns. and taxes on privileges, leaving
each county local option on the assess
ment or not of labor tax.
6. Giving the boards of highway com
missioners the right to have work done
by contract or otherwise at their dis
erection. but providing rigid stipulations
protecting the county if contracts are let
Z. Specifying that residents assessed
for labor shall not be required to perform
such labor under contractor except at
the mutual agreement of the persons as
sessed and the contractor.
:. A PROVISION for permanent and con-
tinual supervision and maintenance of the
highways IN place OF periodic repairs.
NJ n.
visory supervisor over the highway adj
ministration of the several counties in
order to insure:
(a) Uniformity in matters of records,
reports and maps filed at the county
Offices
(b) The collection of data and statistics
of cost, mileage, character and number OF
bridges, rates and amount Of taxes, num-
Der of days of labor assessed, number
worked, etc.
| (c) The issuance OF bulletins or circu-
lars to county highway officials relative
to advantageous features to be adopted
IN highway construction and manage
ment.
Id The settlement of matters in dis
pute between adjoining counties relative
| to highways which cross or which run on
county lines.
(e) Provision for continued consldera-
ton of the conditions of the highways OF
the State, and recommendations regard
ing them ard the laws regulating the
same.
(O Provision for regular OF periodic
meetings of highway officials of the State,
or of portions of the State, looking to the
general elevation of the character and
efficiency of the highways and the high
way systems of the several counties.