The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-15
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY Us, 1900.
ROAD LEGISLATION.

We are glad to notice that the House
Committee on Counties. Cltles ana
Towns has reported favorably House
hll No. AIS, Of which Mr.. Murreil Of
Bedford. is patron. providing for the per
ana,,ent Improvement of the public ROADS
of the State.
This bill seems to be founded upon
proper principles. and is in general ac-
cord with the plans of road improve
mcnt which have been most successiui
and economical in other States.
A study OF the subject OF highway I'M
provement will convince any one that the
difficulty is not the lack of money for
roads. but rather the waste OF money
which Is drawn from the people by tax
alton. This waste is largely result
of want of system, and especially the
result of n lack of intelligent super
vision. We bslieve that if the bill IN
question is epacted into law, 1t Will
be the beginning of a systematic I'M
provcme1f OF the highways of the State
and will insure the conduct OF the work
under such Intelligent supervision as
will prevent the waste of revenues which
has been going on for .ears past
one Of the most important features
of The bill is that which provides for
the creation of the Office Of State High
way Commissioner. whose duty 1t will be.
to collect and distribute data, and TO
tnaucurate a system of permanent inn
nrove,nent of the roads upon plan OF
fr
have central office of this kind, Tot
only as means, Of instruction as to
the best methods of road Improvement,
hut in ordc- for some system to be IN
PRODUCED to secure for our State the
benefit of expert advice and assistance
which viii be Furnished free, upon proper
request, by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.
The bin provides for a tax of one
cent on the hundred dollars OF assessed
valuation of real and. personal property,
which, we are Informed, will raise a
fund Of about $4,000. out of which fund
ii Is proposed TO grant, as far as !.os1
sible, the aid of the State TO the per-
manent Improvement of the highways,
upon the plan fully set out IN the bill
This system of State aid has been found
10 be just, effective and economical In
all of the States in which it has been
tried, and has met With the unqualified
approval of those who have given TO. the
subject the greatest amount of study.
The tax of one cent on the hundred
dollars is almost mere baGatel!e. and
as compared with the enormous bene-
fits which would result to the State from
TN organized and systematic effort to
Improve its public roads. it is really
nothing. and indeed it can DE safely pre-
t;.c,ed that but little. if anything. Will
ever be done in the way of permanent
Improvement until some such system
is adopted.
The bin contains other important and
consolidating rl,e work under intelligent
supervision in the counties, the ork-
ing of warrants and criminals Of short
term in The county jails on The public
roads, giriay TO the counties authority
10 issue bonds when authorized by vote
OF the people. and others which we ttr
not notice: but il is commended 20 The
attention and study of al who feel an
interest in the important subject Of she
improvement Of the public roads Of the
State.
NNe believe nothing which the Leg
isluturc could do would accomplish mo, {
sor the inate,ial advancement Of the whole
people Of the Commonwealth than the
enactment of some legislation OF this
character. which would tend 70 remove
and would IN course OF time entirely re.
move, this stumbling block in the way
OF the prosperity OF our people.
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PRoGR1lss or THE TRUST DIS!
CCSSION.
The resolutions which the Anti-Trus
League adopted at Chicago Tuesday eve.
,.:ng wae TO be an,ic,pated when thu
4 personnel, of that body was considered
lsaatius Donells' was there, Jere simp
son WAS there John r Altgcid was there
l.epresc,,tatiye snlzer. OF New York. was
hayA mr.