Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-12
AGREE ON ROAD LAW.
The Convention Adopts q Number Of
Recommendations to Legislature.
CALL FOR AID FROM THE STATE.
Refused to PIncc the Additional
Work Upon the Commisstoner Of
AgricuItuPc-Wilt Have hiHh""y
Commissiourr-Work of the Body.

Commissioner-Work of the Body.
The Good Roads Convention has. IL ap-
pears. resolved itself into something de-
cldcdly practical In its session yes
terday the Legislative Committee report
cd a number Of recommendations con
corning highway improvement, which.
with the exception of few slight amend
ments. were adopted
When the body convened Mr.. Orris A.
Browne. the newiy-chosen president. was
in the chair. and Immediately after the
convention assembled. Mr.. Rogers. OF Ac-
comac, and Supervisor Cummings. OF
King William. made short talks, giving
information regarding the system OF road
maintenance In their respective counties
and the benefit OF their experience IN
road-building.
During the debate the dilatory dele
gates dropped in gradually ana hiIeu
vacant seats. The Committee on Legis-
lation appeared after brief interval
with its report. which was read by MAYOR
James II, Dooley, the chairman.
THE LEGISLATIVE REPORT.
The report of the Legislative Commit
We was as follows:
Whereas. It is expedient. right, ana
proper that this convention, coinpvssu va
REPRESENTATIVES OF all classes Interests,
and sections, assembled iot tne Pp1d
Of discussing the road question, shoui'
make a clear declaration OF us piIhei1
pies upon the important subject OF Toau
legislation: therefore. be IL ,o,,,.o
Resolved. /. That we FAVOR M apsoi ',,I
repeal of ALI road laws. bOth een"raI ailI
special now upon the statute-boohs OF
Virginia. and the enactment or seheIhi
road law for the entire state paseu upon r
lust and effective principles ano o9s a.
ing sufficient feXbility 10 perihit VI ~ ~
application to the conditions eA's'hs III
each county. g .,o,.
That we condemn the custom OF pass
ing special road laws for each county as
tending 20 destroy the integrity vi ~
State and produce confusion ana iheIh-
ENFoRCED LABOR CONDEMNED.
3. That we condemn the system OF en-
forced labor upon the public roads as
unjust in principle and ineffective IN us
operation, tending TO retard rather thah
promote road Improvement: and that we
vigorously oppose all propositions or
movements looking to It's revival III VI"
ginia. T., ,,,
4. That we condemn as wrong IN prln-
CHILE any plan which allows the county
courts TO appoint road othcefs; or nav
anything whatever TO DO win the auiii''-
istration of road laws. ia,
ciple, expensive. and ineffective any sys-
TEN which places the road work under lhe
supervision of numerous ROAD surveyors
or commissioners, thereby dlVlulhg me me
authority and responsibility or uhutr tle
supervision Of any one possessing no spe
cial knowledge upon the subject OF road
making.
6, That we favor the enactment of a
law by which all classes and interests III
the STATE will be required to bear the our-
den of taxation for road purposes IN pro-
portion to the benefits derived. by when
State aid will be extended TO the I'M
provement Of the. main ROADS unuer GER
tain conditions. by which the counties
will be allowed TO Issue bonds for the
Dermanent Improvement of the public
roads under proper conditions ana restrlc-
tions: by which both State and county
conyicts or criminal labor VIII ne en-
Moved in improving the public roads: by
which the road work VIII be placed under
the control Of the boards or supervisors
of the respective counties. who are the
direct representatives of the people, and
Wv which the actual supervision of the
road work will be entrusted TO county
engineers, thus consolidating the authorl-
ty and responsibility. ana insurlng intel
lipent supervision. That TO this end we
WOnl1
road law, containing the following provis-
ions: s,oo ,.,.,
of all real and personal property subject
to taxation by the state, the revenue de-
rived therefrom to be known as state
Road Fund -, A.
800 of real and personal properly, giving
authority to the boards of supervisors OF
the respective counties TO increase this
TOW NJ discretion. -
Authorizing the boards of supervisors
pf the counties. at their discretion, 10
apply revenues derived from ,aN , non on
railroads, or any other specldi revenues
TO road Improvement. -. ,a.,aA
Authorizing the counties TO issue pohns
for the permanent Improvement OF rodus
upon q vote or tnree HUNS Vi 'he iieO-
holders OF a county.
Providing for the working OF the stare
and county convlcts or criminals In pre-
paring material for the permanent I'M,
provement of the public roads; such road
material to be suppIleu W tho
at actual cost -, Il.
Allowing a county or city to hire us
convicted prisoners to another county,
under proper conditions, to be WorKeu o'
the roads. c..o
Providing for the appointment OF STATE
highway commissioner by the Governor
bv and with the consent OF the Sena'e
for q term of four years. whose !,
shall be TO supervise the appnea,io, To- ~
literature and information. conect ua.H
TO be published in annual renorts TOT W.
use Of those engaged In road WORK, ah0
for the Information OF the Ltsisiat ~ ~
and do anything in his power 10 anu 'h'
permanent improvement OF the roaus' a.
Placing the roads in charge Oh roo,
boards of supervisors or OF speeid'
boards in the respective couhuts. -
Requiring the board having charsV ~
the highways Of each county 10 eihpIo
a county engineer. who shall have dlEtC
supervision OF ali road-work In me cUu ~
", and be held responsible therefor p ,.
Vided that where expenditures for iOI
nurpOses in any county do not eNcet
s. 500 per annum. such county mn
unite with some adjoining county ana en-
ploy one engineer for the two coultlca.
Amending the present laws in reSai
TO graduates in engineering, educated Il
State expense, so that sucn srauu" -, "
may serve as county enSlheeIs ~ 49,
wears, when employed by the boaId
OF supervisors, instead OF teaching Nv
' AS TO ADJACENT LANDS.
Providing State aid TO permanent i'm
provement of the main highways, on un
general plan of the New Jersey law VII
some modfications-that Is: ON petiuo
OF the owners OF one third OF the ianu
bordering upon any section OF road. ask
Ing for survey OF such section OF roa
and estimate OF cost OF permanently I'M
proving same with either stone or grave
or shell, accompanied by description Q
The lands which In their opinion would b
directly benefited by such improvement
the Board OF Supervisors shall forwar
cony of such petition To the State high
way commissioner. and direct the count
engineer 10 make such survey and sui
nit an estimate OF the cost OF such In
movement together with a plan OF tina
section Of road to be improved. and IN
lands described In the petition whic
would be directly benefited by such In
movement Whenever thereafter IN
aawnnr. Of ihrec Nflhs OF the land In sue