Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-02-23
BETTER WORK FOR
OUR COUNTY ROADS
Is the Present Slogan ofvirginia
Enthusiasts
HIGHER LAND VALUES FOLLOW
Good Roads the Foundation of Agri-
cultural Success

cultural Success
State Highway Commissioner p.
st. Julian Wilson has issued his
annual report for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1899. The
report constitutes a volume OF some
40 pages, with numerous illustra
tions OF actual work done on the
public highways of the State, show
ing in many instances the complete
macadam highway, with a number
OF concrete bridges and culverts.
Among other things, Mr.. Wilson
says:
During the year 1909 the growth
OF the movement for good roads in
Virginia has been steady and con-
sentative, and / believe that the in
terest awakened by the work done
under the State aid law will be of
benefit to the State far beyond that
derived from the actual mileage Of
road constructed. This is evidenc-
ed by the fact that wherever few
miles of road have been constructed
the sentiment of the community in
favor OF road improvement has been
much increased. In several instan-
ces large majorities for bond issues
have been the direct result of few
miles of road constructed in a coun-
ty.
Ten OF the one hundred counties
made no application for the State
aid for 1909 in any form. Twenty
two counties elected to use this aid
for bridges instead of roads. Six
teen counties have had the beneut
of the convict road force. Road
construction has been completed or
is under way in forty counties. Road
work will begin in the near future
in eight counties. Eight other coun-
ties have been prevented from start
ing construction by their inability
to secure contracts or proper equip
ment to do the work, and expect tC
take up the work in the early spring
in connection with the 1910 work
Most of the remaining twelve coun.
ties will pursue the same course, as
their apportionment of the 1909 FUND
is too small an amount to do effect
:. i've work with.
During last year thirty-six coun
ties availed themselves of State aiC
in one way and another under tn,
act OF Legislature providing tina
: whenever a county provides gooC
read fund the State will double th'
amount either in cash or in convic
. labor. This plan proved so goo(
that over sixty counties have nov
:, appealed TO the State for aid on thes
. terms, and incidentally to the Leg
islature to make a great big appro
:. priation this year to carry on tn
good work of making permanent
highways throughout the leagtl
= and breadth of the Old Dominion
= The other forty counties have al
:. ready received some aid and ar
~ expecting some more"
L Mr.. Wilson gives interesting de
tailed description of the roads &C
~ tualiy built in the various countie
or which are now Under construct
s ion with State aid. The following
appears concerning Rockbridge:
- Surveys have been made Tor seN
= eral roads out of Buena Vista an
! Raphine, and bids have been opene
: for some of this work. Up to tn
present time it has been impossibl
e, . for the road authorities to make
: satisfactory arrangement for any {
;, this work. The county has, how
= ever, improved some of its road
the machinery for this purpose ha'
~, ing been loaned them by the Ches
10 peake and Ohio Railway Company
n a bill to provide for free tie!
OF books in the primary and gramm;
lg grades in the public schools of ar
OF city or school district, when a