The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-07
EXPERT PRAISE
STATE ROAD WORK
Pennybackcr Says Virginia Con
struction Is Lowest in
Cost.
No Il ENOUGH cIoINvl.cTs
Ninety Out Of One Hundred
Counties Apply for
State Aid.

Counties Apply for
State Aid.
j. r.. Pennybacker, chief OF the Road
Management Bureau, United states
Office Of Public Roads, was in Rich
mond yesterday. In discussing the
outlook for highway Improvement, he
said:
.55."Whatshas particularly impressed us
In our study OF the road movement IN
Virginia has been the exceptional pro-
gress in the building of permanent
roads in the past five years as COM
pared with all previous years. We took
q census OF improved roads In 1904
and have nearly completed the collec-
tion OF data to 1909, inclusive, and
from present indications our invests
cation will show a mileage Of perma-
nent, roads completed during this
short period nearly one-third as great
IN Virginia as the total mileage to
1904. This Is very largely due to the
establishment OF State aid and super
vision and not only vindicates the wis
dom Of the plan, but shows skill and
care in the execution OF the law.
DcucuI Oh Stdtc IAIus
I'VE find from observation that the
benefits Of State aid are not confined
to the roads directly improved, but
are largely in evidence in arousing
and directing public sentiment In sup
port OF larger expenditures and bet
ter administration In the various
counties. Since state aid has been
inaugurated In Virginia a number of
counties have issued bonds for road
imp rovement. These. as shown by the
report OF the State Highway Commits
sion, are Cnlpeper, Orange, spottsyl-
vania. Norfolk, Dinwddie. Greenes-
willie, Mecklenburg, Charlotte. AM
herst, Pulaski. Washington and Rus
sell. striking feature in county
bond issues In this State is that the
bonding counties are in groups, prov
ing that the example is good and the
movement contagious.
IT doubt II any state can furnish
better showing Of results for an equal
expenditure OF state funds.
IAN examination of the reports OF
the state Highway Commissioner re-
veals the fact that over 3 90 miles OF
permanent roads are completed or
have been under construction during
tho past year, and 1t is noteworthy
fact that the cost OF construction is
less than I'm any other State aid
State. 5t
That the plan OF State aid Is recciv-
ing enthusiastic support, and is being
fully justified. is shown by the fact
that about ninety out Of the 100 coun-
ties are applying for State aid In 1910.
Virginia has the distinction OF being
the first Southern State. except Mary
land. to give State aid to road Inn
provement. and i cannot emphasize
too strongly Its benedcent influence
| IN Fastening the adoption OF this poi-
Icy in the other Southern States.
\ In Other States.
georgia now uses its entire convlc
1 force on the roads. West Virginia ha!
established State aid, while Louisiana
will probably pass State aid law thl!
spring.
"The United States Office of Public
Roads strongly favors State parttctpa.
ton in road work, because 1t means
skilled supervision. permanent roads
definite system in lieu of intermit.
tent and temporary maintenance sub
stantial aid to the principal roads and
a practical and effective utilization
or convicts In aEwork of general pubs
lice benefit. Since State aid began In
New Jersey In lS918it has been adopted
in principle or practice by about thirty
States, and the ,inanswerablesa rgll-
mentytn Its faVOralSk I'll ut not one OIL lHe
states have received one iota from their
support Of the policy. and every
change of the State aid laws has been
toward broadening OF the scope Of
the State highway departments. and
increases In appropriation.
A Million Year.
Your sister state OF Maryland be-
gan in a small way, and Is now spend
Ing 100000 a year New York has
adopted a policy calling for over $5.-
O00. 900 a year from State funds. Point
to a state which has forged to the
front In the building OF good roads
and you will find that State aid has
been the potent factor In this progress.
Marvellous Pr0EreHs
virginia, with good roads Will
achieve marvelou prog ress,G and I am
|Elad to see that she Is on the way to
secure them. The plan of furnishing
convict labor and money aid is excel
lent, as the convicts, thanks to the
law-abiding tendency Of the people,
will mot so around. and consequently
| the money will round out tho distri-
button and make tho law thoroughly
effectlvc. I suppose as a matter OF
course that the appropriation will be
gradually Increased from year tc
year. s