Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-07-24
SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT
TO USURP COURTS POWERS
Says Roads Are Not Getting Dollars
Worth For Dollar Paid, and In Many
Instances Money Collected For Road
Purposes Has Not Been Applied to
the Roads-WiIl Discuss the Law
Before the County Court.

Charleston, w. Va. July I'll
The road drag, an Instrument
which can be constructed in one hour
and with which it costs fifty cents
to drag one mile OF road Is the so
luton to large extent of the good
roads problem in West Virginia in
the opinion of State Commission of
Public Roads Charles p. Light.
This idea of the new Commissioner
of Public Roads is based upon prac-
teal experiments conducted In his
own state and upon information and
actual knowledge received from 9th
err states where the road drag has
been used continually.
When the road has been dragged
continually after every rain for sew
eral months, says the road commits
sioner, it becomes an easy matter 10
drag 1t and at the Same time the sur
face becomes glazed and is almost
imneryious 10 the elements which
have been dastructible to the roads
of this state Two of the be t in
stances OF where the road drag mas
beer successful is cited by Commits
ssioner Light as in his own county OF
Berkeley and the county OF Green
brier.
The new commissioner is going to
be successful in his office. He's optl-
mistic and largely believes that IL IS
nm to every fellow to work cut MS
own salvation as far as Improvements
INTO
every county of the state he Is going
to meet the county courts and ask
them to allow him to work with
them He doesn't want to usurp
any of their authority or infringe
upon any of their rights, but he wants
to work with them.
"The people of the several counties
in West Virginia" said Commission
err Light, as he slammed his hst
down on the desk in his office. are
not getting their dollars worth for
every dollar that is expended. In
many instances the money collected
for road purposes has not been APP
piled to the roads.
81 am Just writing letters to the
county clerks of the several counties
asking them to inform me when the
county courts are in session. Just as
soon as hear from these clerks, and
anticipate early replies, then | VIII
go before the courts and discuss the
General road law and ascertain just
the kind of a man they are going to
appoint as county engineer.
''Tt is my intention to eradicate the
impression that the department of
which | am the head is going to usurp
the power of the county courts or IN
any manner infringe upon their
rights. However, want to let the
people of the state know that the
money paid by levy and capitation
taxes for road purposes will be spent
for that purpose.
There will be no offices In the
county after the list of January with
reference 60 road duties, except the
county engineer and his possible as
sistants. These county engineers will
be appointed before October list.
These engineers will compile road
maps OF the COUNTY anu 5iNS - - -
ate statistics concerning the road mile
age of which we are in ignoia nce at
present"
AS Commissioner of public roads
Mr. Light suggests the appropriate
ness of public meetings to further a
greater sentiment. He's an optimist
himself and sees only the bright
things ahead and consistently be-
lieves that an enlightened public
opinion will result in better sys-
ten of highways.
Next week the board of Public
Works will take up the road ques-
ton and it is certain that the new
commissioner OF Public Roads is
going to have the backing Of the