The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-31

/ 81 Eoods roads assooiAti Tors, Ia an effort
IL awaken more general Oh q active In
Stsrest Iii permanent road lint sfneft,
and generally to Arouse public sentiment
q the Importance u the subject Il Il
further provided that h the commission,
shall have general control and direction
$of the engineer In the dlscharse OF his
duties and may publish bulletins and
make sioi, distribution OF the same 4 AZ 2
may seom best, n K 4; y
The duties OF ti,e engineer Will BE- "
collect literature publishSa BY the gems en-
3eral government and to ascertain what
laws and methods are used In other 'tat
States and che laws whicn appl y TO ootii1-.
Ftes In this States, cri to make an r ab.
stract 81 such Avs and methods az q are re
best adapted 10 the state Of Virginia II ltlitl
But his principal duty viii Be TO I aid the
counties In the work Of road improve.
5tneiit Upon ppllcation. the eng nleeer u
required Is give without charge to Boards i'1ls
of Supervisors or any Of the county a .'t
5thorlties irformat ton and vice pertain
Ing 10 highways and highway improve = t'-
E1nents Upon the request Of any officer.
Of officers, having the mana cement g 9 T.
public roads III any county the engineer r ''r
is required to 60 In person to suci, coutl I'M
Sty and give direction to the work Of road
Improvement. b provided that In such case
the county pay his expenses. b .5 u &
VI It is5 further provided that during the
term 81 office the engineer shall en-
Sdeavor Ito visit each county In the State
8at least once, and hold therein q public
meeting, }at which there shall be an open
discussion OF all matters srelatl Ing to high
ways or highway impr oven,ent. The Com
missioner OF Agriculture is directed to
5allot time at Farmers Institute meet
iings for discussion on highway improve
melit, and the engineer Is required to at.
tend such meetings when prac icable. Ss5s
For the expenses Of the commits sion the
sum Of $1,000 is appropriated, out Of
which the engineer IS to receive q salary
OF 81, 700. i.5l III B. ri,
This Is q good bill q and deserves the
serious consideration Of the General AS
seanbly. It Is a ( movement in the right
direction. we like the educational feat
$$,ure OF the bill. Governor ontague ID
himself a great advocate of road improve
ment, as Is also Commissioner Koiner,
*pnd they would do q good work In crcu-;
#lating literature and or oasing public sem
8timent .ifs the State would only & provide
them with the means. .s4
Ii But more than all we regard It as
matter Of supreme it,lpsortance that there
be a competent engineer to plan and
map outfands direct the work Of road I'M
provement in the several counties. Viz
Sginia has spent an enormous y sum I'M Of
money since the war in working the
roads. a great deal Of which has been
absolutely wasted because there was g. Q
competent engineer to direct the work.
she Is not spending as much money none as as
she should on her highways but tjif n the
N oney which she is spending were IN N
5tellIgently pended, and II the work were 'el;e
Slntelligently done, the results would 90
far more satisfactory l5 IL
s$5 Under Mr.. Rice's bill an inst gniticant
sun, sum Of money ! Is appropriated, and we
believe that it would be one Of the tn , best
Investments that the State could possibly
make, We hope that this bill, or one one
like It. will pass 81 Il Al II 4,
tll ". ,s