The Washington herald., 1909-08-15

Flying scout cars and the honb OF their
horns through many OF the highways OF
/ the State this summer has dore as much
as any one thing 10 arouse public in
tercst in good roads IN Virginia. Added
to this has been the controversy over
| the advantages Of the Capital to capital
route as against that Of the Valley
route" and all togetr the people of
/ the Old Dominion are IN the mood Of
/ spending money for good roads. At least
! the movement is gaining ground.
/ Gov. Swanson Is an advocate Of
good roads. and both In his public ut
! terances and his writings 20 the press
he has tirelessly advocated the improve
! ment Of the highways OF the state.
/ Gov. Swanson recently authorized the
I following statement regarding the i'm
/ proved roads movement IN Virginia,
which appeared IN the Baltimore Manu-
/ facturers' Record:
Virginia commenced her present move
ment for road Improvement al the ses-
/ sion Of the general assembly OF 1876
/ Up 10 that time the state had done
nothing toward either the construction
! or Improvement Of the highways. The
matter had been left entirely 70 the coun-
ties and local authorities.
CrenteS IA Commission.
The general assembly OF 1905 COM
menced this movement by creating a
highway commission. with sufficient COM
/ petent assistants. who were authorized
to make surveys and specifications for
/ the counties and local authorities upon
request. free OF charges. II was thought
| best for the state not 20 make appropria-
tlons for road construction until the de-
partment had been organized and could
/ see that the money was wisely and prop
! erly expended.
! The same session Of the general assem-
/ bly, passed a law directing the employ
ment OF all prisoners I'm the Jails and
/ convicts sent 20 the penitentiary for a
/ term not exceeding two years, TO be used
upon the highways in improving and con-
structing them. The State appropriated
| sufficient money TO guard, feed, and
! clothe these prisoners, and the local au-
/ thOTities furnished the material and ma
| chinery 70 be used.
/ Under the operation Of this provision
| the State furnishes about half the cost
/ OF construction Of the roads and the
! counties and local authorities the residue.
! Heretofore the state had kept al pris-
| oners in the jams in idleness. costing
about twenty-five cents per capita to feed
| clothe and guard them. and received
nothing in return. Under the operation OF
1 this law the State has been able to feed.
clOthe, and guard these prisoners for a
/ great deal less than II cost TO keep them
IN prison, and IN addition secures their
work on the public roads. The health
and the moral and physical condition OF
the prisoners has been greatly improved
while engaged in road building.
Prisoners Health Improves.
"A marked improvement in health has
been noted. The camps have been con-
suucted with regard TO the laws Of sani-
tation. and little sickness has occurred
among the prisoners.
THE success Of the convict road forces
has been marked. and shows results as
beneficial as it's most sanguine advocate
could wish.
THE last general assembly increased
| the term Of those sentenced TO work on
the roads 70 five years. and this will add
/ largely 10 the force.
Under the operation Of this law there
are now fourteen camps engaged in road
work in the State. The demand for these
| camps Is larger than the State can sun
| ply. The law will doubtless be amended
at the next session OF the general assem-
bly, so as TO provide for more camps and
make ii easier to obtain the jail prison.
ers.
When the last general assembly met II
was evident from the number Of convicts
available that a vast majority Of the
counties could not receive the benefits 10
be derived from this law; hence the gen
eral assembly appropriated, commencing
March /. 1909, S25OOO0 out OF the state
treasury TO be divided among the coun-
ties in proportion TO the taxes paid bv the
counties. conditioned upon the counties
or local authorities furnishing an amount
equal 10 that furnished by the State
/ this amount 10 be available IN those
counties that could not obtain the benefit
Of a road camp during the year: the
roads TO be constructed or improved 10
be under direction Of the highway com
missioner and according TO his plans and
/ specifications
'"Vhere the amount furnished bv the
! State was less than $3.50 the counties