The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-07-01
Monday, July 1, 1912.
WEST VIRGINIA AND GOOD ROADS
The American Motorist published
the following paragraph:

The American Motorist published
the following paragraph:
West Virginia enjoys the questionable
distinction Of being the only state In tho
Union which, after the enactment of a
Good Roads law. and the creation OF a
repealed the law. abolished the DEPART
ment. and permitted the roads TO relapse
into their previous condition OF muddi-
ness. Stili. there are many people in
that state who are anxious for improved
roads.
The editor Of the American Motor
list doubtless does not know that the
Office OF Road Commissioner was
abolished and the State road laws re-
pealed purely as an act OF partisan
spite by the first Democratic legisla-
ture in sixteen years. That body
seemed bent upon undolng as many
OF the things that the previous Repub-
lican legislatures had done as was
possible. II made an attack upon the
tax laws and the Tax Commissioner.
and found them too strongly en-
trenched in the respect and conf
dence of the voters 10 be seriously as
sailed. Therefore. the disappointed
politicians vented their ~displeasure
and ill-will upon the Road Commits
sioner and the new road laws.
The road laws passed by the legis-
lature in 1909 contemplated the CO
operation OF the State with various
counties in the creation OF a system
OF good roads. They provided. first.
a small direct tax for the State road
fund. and. second. for the maintenance
OF a department whose work was 10
study road conditions and suggest the
best methods OF DAD Improvement.
as well as cooperating with counties
in the matter Of road engineering.
This was, o: course. only a beginning.
but a beginning in the right direction.
Without any justification or excuse
the Democratic legislature OF 1911
wiped out the office OF Road Commits
sioner, and practically destroyed all
= the work lat department had done.
in other words. West Virginia has
been put back four years. and posi-
bly, more. in the matter Of road i'm
provement. while every other State i'm
the Union has been appropriating lib
orally for good roads. while such
States as Maryland. Pennsylvania.
Ohio and others an around rs have
been bonding themselves in millions
OF dollars for the purpose Of creating
q State roa system. West virginia
Is doing nothing and has deliberately
turned its hack upon the only inteIi.
gent good road program that was ever
established In the State. Here and
there a few counties In West Virginia
are making improvements. but the
State as "A whole stands idle We,
there is no States east OF the Missis.
sippi river that needs road improve.
ments worse than West Virginia does.
No State 10 This section would derive
greater benefits from a good system
OF roads.
West Virginia is the Switzerland
OF America By building n system
o. good roads over our mountains and
through "a valleys. this state vi
become n Of The great pleasure
grounds and oue Of the great touring
territories ~ tho world We have
here scenery superior 20 the Adiron.
dacks and the White Mountains Wa
sre in tho pathesy Of the travel be
tween the Fast and tho West We
have only ~ make such travel posi-
be and we Will draw to Wes, Viz
einia every year an army 81 automo.
bHiFfs and other pleasure seekers.
West VreInia is peculiarly adapted
" the growing OF market products
rrliia and vegetables Every farmer
knows how much the ,a.uo OF such
crops BE- increased ty good road. that
viii enable them % he marketed Gael.