The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-13

selve equal consideration and DO properly

ceiye equal consideration and be properly
developed.
greater benefits to tho State tim that.
given to equip teachers Tor tho primary
and high schools. Tho success Of every
tho efficiency Of the teachers. prudently,
but progressively. the state shou,u contin-
uously improve and perfect Its vast edu-
vers.ty and colleges TO the primary schools,
until II shall be surpassed by that OF no
state In this Union.
Road Improvement.
rho recent cnactr1ents for the improves
mcnt OF tho public highways OF the state
have been productive of most beneficial
results. The present policy of working con-
lie roads should be continued. without cost
to the state. many miles Of, good. per-
manont roads have been constructed. The
: greatly benefited both physically and mo-
rally. This feature OF. road Improvement
can BIO most probably extended by tho
state operating with its %eonvicts, in vari.
/ Gus sections OF the state, quarrles and then
furnishing to tho counties road material
either free or atScost. Railroads will trans
port this material either free or at a very
low rate. Many convlcts could thus DO
utilized for road purposes, which cannot
now be used on account of their danger
GUS character. or because of tho long terms
for which they are sentenced, which great
ly increases the temptation to escape. The
cost to tho State OF guarding those en-
gagged in tl,is character OF work woulo also
be far less than the cost of guarding those
engaged directly in road construction.
4 wish to renew to tho General Assem-
bly, the recommendations i made upon tnis
matter In my inaugural address.
I desire also 70 present to your considcra-
tion tho recommendation of the board of
directors OF the penitentiary, that there be
created in addition to tho Office OF Super
Slntendent OF the Pen!tentiary. a new Office
Force. I concur in the necessity for this
suggested change. It is impossible for one
person to give tho frequent and careful
TO the many widely scattered convict camps
that Is necessary In order to insure q clean,
economical and efficient administration. The
worl, REQUIRED Is go vast and varied. tho
SO urgent, that the best interest OF the
state demands that this work BIO divided.
Counties and Good Roada.
The last General Assembly appropriated
for this year ssao,oo0 for state aid to the
Improvement of public highways. to be
cxpend I'd in those counties that had not
enjoyed the benefits OF the convict road
force during the year, and conditioned upon
the counties furnishing an amount equal
to that provided by the state. All the
counties OF the State except ten have avail
ed themselves OF tho provisions of this
law. The enactment OF this law marked
in this state the beginning OF a broad, pro-
~sresslve and far-reaching policy of road
Improvement. Under Its stimulating infu,
ence a deep, enthusiastic interest In road
betterment has been created In every Sec
ton. 1t has been instrumental In the con-
struction Of many miles OF good pernla-
nent road, and has occasioned many miles
more to be let to contract which will soon
be completed. To obtain Its benefits many
miles have been surveyed and applications
arc pending for many more surveys prepara-
tory to the commencement OF work. TWEEN
ty-two OF the counties have elected to use
this state aid in the erection OF needed
bridges. Twelve counties, encouraged by
it's provisions, I've issued bonds for road
Improvement aggregating S1.1Ss'oW.
When 1t Ia remembered that this act
furnishing State aid has been operative
less thar one year, the results achieved are
has far exceeded the expectations of the
most saneuine. 1t has distributed its bene-
fits Justly and fairly to all parts OF the
Comm onwealth. The law has been proven
an experiment.
should BE Permanent.
This General Assembly should make state
aid to road Improvement a permanent pol
icy. 1t should set aside for this purpose
q definite revenue derived from specific
sources. to be available to the counties
which vi h comply with d the s conditions %n,. contain "r +
effective. 1t should Indicate, as far rs 1t
possesses owe to do SO, that this fund
is for the future dedicated to this pur.
| uOSCs IL tAuN I"ouAN "OuAuI
! be immense. The counties knowing what
aid they would receive in the future could
i inaugurate q continuous, broad, well defined
system OF Improvement, and work requlr-
ly undertaken. Adjoining counties could
cooperate moro benefcially and frequently.
Counties desiring to issue bonds for road
Improvement could do so moro intelligently
and safely, when they knew tho amount
that would be received In the future from
tho State to pay interest upon the bonds
and for the retirement Of the principal,
The value OF such bonds would be greatly
greater advantage. Nothing would contri-
butte more to road Improvement than the
adoption Of this permanent policy.
To Use Franchise Tax.
would suggest that the General As
sembly set aside to be used under the pro-
visions of tho present law for State aid to
road improvement one-halt Of tbs revenue
derived from, the franchise tax upon the
/, gross earnings Of the steam and electric
railways OF the State. Under this proposed
measure the am cunt available next year
for this purpose would be .I1,7OI.ccj The
revenue from this source greatly increases
each year. The State would thus inaugu-
rate a continuous and progressive policy of
road improvement. Each recedins year
would witness greater aid. greater achiov-
mcnt. Our financial condition fully justi-
fees this expenditure. The future material
development and prosperity of Virginia are
inseparabIy interviewer with the bettermcnt
of her public highways. Besides, the in-
creased value OF lands occnsioned by road
improvement quickly returns to the treas
ury taxes in excess OF the amount app.o-
priated.
I also RECOMMEND to the General Assem-
bly, the imposition OF q reasonahle annual
license tax upon automobiles operating IN
this state. The present license tax of 81
for each automobile Is not annual, but
perpetual and it Is grossly INADEQUATE.
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