The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-20
"A. A. ANNOUNCES
GOODROADS PROGRAM
Quotes Senator Swanson of Virginia Question OF Federal
Aid and How Nation: State Country, City Should Do
Their Part in Building Better Highways and in Main
tanning Them

In announcing the attitude 81 $he
American Automobile association on
good roads and federal aid. Chair
man A. c.. Bathcheider, Of the exc
cutive committee, has issued gem
eral statement which appears - cover
the ground very thoroughly, at least
from the motorists point OF view The
statement IL given with IL the opin-
ions of the members of ths senate
and house committees on the move
ment.
In the irst place We believe that
the motorists, as the NEST iussstent
users OF the road, should corne fo--
ward and agree to an annual registra-
ton fee OF fairly substantial proper
tons providing ii IL in lieu OF per
-xaaal taxes and ereFtaefiar- ef Its II
used IN the maintenance Of roads al
ready constructed. This establishes a
partnership between the State and
those who use its roads continuous
Is and to a greater extent than those
who employ horse-drawn vehicles. II
liz plainly unconstitutional to tax one
class of road users and to exempt
another, bur for the time being we
would waive the point because Of the
results which naturally follow the
payment OF this substantial annual
Zee
We advocate the creation twhere
it does not already EXIST OF an e.
feetive State department OF highways.
There should be appointed by the
governor Of the State three commits
sioners of highways. one OF whom
shall be an engineer with practical
experience in the construction ot
road and bridges. The highway
commission shall be the highest tri-
bunal IN the State en- highways mat
tiers. Existing through highways
should he taken over by the State.
where it can be done without too
deeply Involving the Commonwealth,
and the through routes should be built
and maintained by the State. which
also assists the counties IN the build
ing of county roads, and the towns in
the maintenance and repair or town
highways--such State aid. up TO a
limit Of $25 pei mile. to be not Less
tnan fifty cents for each dollar raised
by the town.
The State highway commission
should provide for complete system
Of maintenance OF all state and conn
" highways. which maintenance
should he under the exclusive con-
troll of the commission. and as far as
possible be accomplished by a patrol
system. whereby each eection OF
highway in the State shalt be under
constant surveillance, thus insuring
that II will be done economically. eff
fectivey. and adequately.
We advocate a system Of marking
the route which shall be universal
throughout the State, guide-posts with
proper Inscriptions and devices to be
erected at all Intersections ut high
ways. Such guideposts shall be erect
ed and maintained at the expense of
the township. and shall indicate the
direction, distance, and names Of the
towns, villages. OF cities to and
through which such intersecting
highways run.
After the State situation has thus
been taken care Of, 1t is our conten-
ton that the federal government
should supplment these State systems
with a system OF national roads con-
nectinE all parts Of the country Since
$780, -