The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-09
HIGHWAYS must
Be MAINTAINED
Commissioner Wilson Says
Repairs on Roads Should
Made Promptly
SMALL FUND CURTAlLS
WORK OF CONVICTS
Annual Report to Governor
Shows Great Progress in
Good Roads Being
Made

way Commissioner, in his fourth an
nual report to Governor Mann, made
public on Friday, gives the most inter-
esting, enlightening and comprehep-
slve revelations on the good roads
movement in Virginia that have been
made since the creation of the State
Highway Commission.
Citing the fact that. money given by
the state to counties for road inn
provement is thrown away unless the
counties adopt systematic method of
maintaining the roads. Commissioners
wilson recommends that legislation be
enacted amending both the State mon
ey aid and bond issue laws go as to
insure the proper maintenance or roads
built with such funds
He declares that the law passed at
the last session of the Legislature re-
curing any wide tire ordinance adopt
ed by the supervisors OF a county to
be submitted to the people before ii
could be made effective was a disas
trous blow to the good roads movement
and Will continue to impede road i'm :
provement until the public Is educated
up to the necessity for tie use OF wide
tires.
Commissioner Wilson asserts that
the full benefit of the convict road
force has been curtailed by the small
appropriation for its maintenance made
by the last Legislature. and he recon-
mends that at the next session the
Legislature will make sufficient appro-
priation to utilize all or the convict
road force, including inmates of jails.
Must Care for Roads.
The Commissioner declares that the
good road movement will be set back
many years II the counties fail to give
systematic care to roads after they arc
constructed and he states it is his duty
10 warn the counties that If this care
IL not given roads the only results of
the good roads movement will be out =
standing road bonds within few
years.
Explaining the advocacy of the State
highway Commission of the erection
OF bridges Of reinforced concrete in
the stead of steel structures, Commits :
sioner Wilson asserts that there are
to-day In this State many steel bridges
that are rapidly deterioratng because
OF the lack OF proper care. especially
the regular and essential painting OF
the steel work.
The commissioner hopes TO dissi-
pate the general impression that a
stone road Will last indefinitely with
slight repairs at long intervals He
says nothing could be more erroneous
than this impression. Some macadam
roads have been worn out and be-
come absolutely worthless In less
than two years, he says and he be-
lieves the time to begin repairing
macadam road is the day II is
finished. He suggests that the State
refuse to give money to counties
which do not make some provision
for the up-keep of roads improved
with State funds.
While the good roads movemen
has not yet reached its full momen-
tum, says the com missioner. the peo-
pie of Virginia can confidently look
forward to a future when good roads
VIII no longer be the exception but
the rule in the Old Dominion. In
the year ended October /, 1910, the
period covered by the report. more
than 27o miles of road were COM
pIeted in the State. In 1909 there
was about half that mileage. or eA-
actiy 1875 miles of roads built
Keep Doubling Up.
Only SIS miles were built in 1908
and in the previous year Virginia
constructed the ludricrnusly .ssnau
mileage of "a miles of good roads.
1t may be noted that the mileage
roughly speaking, has each year been
double that OF the previous year for
the last four years. There is promise
OF continuance in increasing ratio. ac-
cording to the State Highway Com
missioner
Captain Wilson says, Too much
praise cannot be given to those per-
sons who have worked INCREASINGLY
to stimulate interest and arouse action
in their communities and who have
been generous. In theiw contributions
10 help make State aid available in
their counties. The press has been
persistent in It's efforts TO educate the
people to the Importance and n@ces-
sity of good roads and the railroads
have been liberal in their treatment
of almost every request that has been
made of them for cooperation.
The convict road force continues
TO prove eminentiy satisfactory and
reference to the costs OF roads built
with money aid and roads built with
convict labor demonstrates the
economy of the use of convict labor
in road construction. | am OF the
opinion that the convict road force
can be used 10 better advantage on
heavier work where the men can be
concentrated.
II earnestly recommend that at the
next session OF the legislature pro-
vision be made for the establishment
of one or more permanent quarries
for stone TO be used in counties which
have no suitable local stone avail
able. Even II these quarries We're
only worked during the winter season
when the weather necessitates the
loss OF much time on the roads
believe II would be economy.
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