Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-07-24
LIGHT INTERESTED
IN ROAD WORK
Has Addressed Letters. to. Several
Counties Concerning the Appoint
ment Of Engineers.

Charleston. w Va, July 20.-With
the State Commission OF Public Roads
back In his office after a trip o. about
two weeks over parts of the state
trying to interest the county courts
in the good roads movements, the
work as laid out by the new laws
Is being taken up in earnest. Let
ters of instruction are being sent out
to the county courts and the next
year is expected TO bring some good
results in the way of lettering the
states highways. Commissioner Light
Is an enthusiast on the subject and Is
ready TO go to any part OF the state
at any time or send State Road En-
glneer Baker. to help the county
courts with any road problem
Under the new law the department
OF roads will have practically entire
charge OF the road building in the
state after January LIST next, with the
exception OF the county road en-
gineer. And 1t is especially concern
ing the appointment Of the county en-
gineer that Commissioner Light has
sent letter to the county courts. II
is an important Office and the men
should be selected with care. Fol
lowing is Mr.. Lights letter:
July nth, 1909
To the Board OF County Commits
sioners:
Gentlemen: On account OF the fact
that / am very anxious to make a
success of the department of which |
am the head, write you this letter.
so that may have your co operation
as far as possible. The success OF
cur present law depends almost en-
tirely upon the kind OF man you ap
point for county engineer, with ref
erence to his fitness and practical
qualifications, as well as his technical
knowledge. The law says that you
shall appoint practical road builder,
or civil engineer, and the construction
that | place upon the statement that
the engineer may be practical road
builder, or civil engineer, Is that you
may not have an engineer available
for the work constantly. but you may
have some man who has had expert
ence as a road supervisor, or builder,
OF valuable kind, who could get the
necessary technical information he
may, and will need, from your county
surveyor or from some other avail
able competent engineer, as you viii
see from Chapter So, Section 81,
Paragraph 4. Acts 1909 In other
words, firmly believe that 1t is the
wish and he desire of each OF you
gentlemen, to do all IN your power TO
improve the condition OF your roads,
and 4 believe that you will use wis
dom and common sense In the selec
ton of your county engineer, as well
as in the execution of the rest of the
road law. But | want to emphasize
the importance OF your selecting a
capable and efficient man for en-
gineer, as the success or failure OF
the law depends upon the kind OF man
you select. | also want you to know
and feel that this department will be
ready at all times to render any as
sistance possible. and hope that yon
will keep me posted as to how things
are moving along, as well as the Civ
ing OF suggestions. | intend to work
with you In an advisory way our com
mon aim being the lettering OF our
roads, and the practical end wise ex
pendlture of our road taxes. I hope to
come before you soon, at which time
we can go into this whole matter more
fully and completely
Yours very sincerely,
Chas. P. Light.
Commissioner OF Public Roads.