Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-10-18
THE PROSPECT OF GOOD ROADS.

lHE HHCICIECl Ut UOOO ftCAD0s
The actiono the Good Roads Convention
at Richmond last Saturday, makes it GER
tain that there will be thoughtfully pre-
prepared bill on the subject up for discus
sion in the legislature next winter. The
Legislative Committee Of the convention
made very full report in which it con-
dennis the use of enforced labor on the
public roads; condemns the system of pass
ing special road laws for each county, and
favors the absolute repeal of all road laws,
general and special, on the statute books.
which allows the county court to appoint
road officers or have anything whatever to
do with the administration of the road
laws, and it condemns as Intellectual the
system of putting road work under the
supervision of numerous commissioners or
road surveyors. The sixth resolution
reported is as follows:
"We favor the adoption of plan by which
all the classes shall bear the burden of taxa
ton for road purposes in proportion to the
benefits derived; by which State aid will be
extended to the improveme nt of the main
roads under equitable conditions; by which
the counties shall be allowed to issue bonds
for the permanent improvement OF the public
roads under proper conditions and restric-
tons; by which both State and county con-
victs or convicted prisoners will be employed
in improving the public roads; by which the
road work will be PLACED under control of
the boards of supervisors Oh OF special road
boards of the respective counties, and by
which the actual supervision of the road work
will be entrusted to county engineers, thus
consolidating the authority and resi- onsibility
and insuring intelligent supervision"
To this end the report then recommends
in detail State tax of 3 per cent, on the
800 valuation of real and personal proper
ty for State road fund; this, under the
new assessment, would yield s2Sl 900,
$4,000 Of which would come from cities,
railroads and hanksl; that a similar amount
be appropriated by the supervisors of each
county for permanent road improvement:
that State highway commissioner be ap-
pointed by the Governor. and that the
present laws in regard to graduates in engi-
neering education at the States expense be
amended SO that SUCH graduates may serve
as county engineers for two years. when
employed by the board of supervisors, in
stead of teaching for two years; that the
fund raised By taxation shall be apportioned
among the counties according to their mile.
age of public roads.
Provision is almost made as to the form
Of petition 10y land owners for road i'm
provements assessment against property
owners in proportion to benefits derived,
etc., and the amount to be paid out OF
the State fund.
The president of the convention was
authorized to appoint a committee to pre-
pare bill, IN accordance with the sugges
tion in the report, for presentation to tht
next general assembly.
While the above are the main points OF
the committees report, we give it in full
in another column that our county friends
may read it all, and be ready when the leg
islature meets with any suggestions to the
Augusta county delegation that they ma.
have to offer.