The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1914-01-02
URGES Read improvement.

Urges Read improvement.
The following is part Of letter cd.
dressed to each member OF a comnission
appointed by Gov. Hooper to investigate.
study and report upon every phase OF
the public reads question:
There 10 IN evident desire among the
people Of ths state to improve tho pub
Lie hlghways Tha sentiment has result
ed in the last few yeArs in the issu-
ance OF country road bonds aggrsgsting
several million dollars, and in the con-
struction Of good systems Of graded and
metalled roads In many counties, II
has resulted in the building Of the great
er part Of the Mistol.to Memphis high
way and the hope Of the completion OF
this Translate road within the next few
years.
There has been but little genuine
road improvement, in the last 20 years
under the general road law OF the state.
q. late years il has become customary
to secure the enactment OF special road
laws applicable TO only one county, bat
in most instances these are only slight
notifications OF the general Law,
I'm the meantime, there has bcen .
continual agitation for the enactment oil
additional general legislation for the ina
proyement Of the public highways and,
especially. for . state highway depart.
ment and state aid to road building. In
every legislature In recent years bill.
have been offered upon this subject A.
rule, they have been crude, iliconsid.
end, poorly adapted TO the nerds OF shs
people and out Of joint with other exist
Ing laws.
For the education Of the people, for
the requirement Of information ttseful to
the next general assembly, for the pro
eurcment Of proper legislation, for the
prevention Of ill-sivised expensive and
Injurious aactments, and for the con"
seqneat advancement OF the cause Of
highway construction and improvement
In the state, l have decided to appoint .
to study, investigate and re-
port upon every phase Of this question.
There are many related questions in
volved In the consideration Of this prob
lem. and IL ID necessary for them to he
considered tog-th~. II will not bc map
propr,ate for me to suggest here some VI
the most important questions that arise
In connection with the subject Of road
legislation.
In the first place, shall the state ex.
tend aid to counties and districts in the
Of pubisc Aighwaysi
IF II be assumed that the theory Of
state aid is correct, then the next quee-
.ion is: In what way shall tn. state rx.
tend such aid'
The state can participate In road
building by one Of two methods, or by
both Of them, namely. by the direct ex-
pendlture Of real money or by the use Of
state conyir,s
III the state 10 to contribute funds,
how shall they be rAised' There are
only two methods taxation and
bonds.
III the money ~ 10 h raised by d.
rect taxation In any adequate amount,
either the present levy must be Increased
Or some Of the present expenditures OF
The state mus, he diminished
|! /, 10 considered improbable that
The increase Of the tax levy would he
approved BY the legislature, !. will then
become necessary 20 point out spech'
ally wherein other expenditures can and
vii he sntfeinty decreased 10 leave
,rything substantial for road building"
Highway cnmmMSian