West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-05-28
NUMBER 81
TO STUDY ROAD CONDITIONS
agricultural Department Engineers
VIII Make Inspection OF Road Con-
ditIons In West virsiuIa--WliI Con-
Ter With Local Officials

Washington, ID. O., May lS.-Detailed
studies OF local road building systems in
one hundred counties are now being
carried ON 10y the Department OF Agri-
culture IN cooperation with State high
way departments and local authorities.
The following counties in West Virginia
nave been designated 10y the State high
way officials as those in which the in.
vestgaton should be made Cabell.
taycttc, Jefferson, Mcdowell, Ohio, Web
stsr, and Wyoming
The purpose of this study is to discover
the points of excellence and defects in
existing local methods of building and
maintaining roads which will aid the
state authorities Co put local road manage
mcnt ON systcmatzed basis The CO.
operating state authorities have been
asked to designate counties that present
typical and exceptional features as to
topography, character of road materials,
methods of construction and maintenance,
administrative organization, methods of
road financing, aud traffic conditions.
From these lIsts 100 counties will bc
selected. and in these counties the Division
OF Road Economics will make intensive
studies
Ihls investigation is promoted 10y the
fact that there is at present very little
knowledge as to the most effective and
economical methods 10y which county
can develop its roads. At present the
methods of financing local road improve
monts vary from calling on farmers for
certain number of days labor in lieu of a
road tax, or the use of county prisoners
IN road construction, TO bond issues or
maintenance of roads from dram.shop
license funds
Tht Department will study all OF these
systems with the Wow to determining
what system or combination OF systems
works best in actual practice
There il, moreover, ut present no
standard system of keeping accounts for
road building and maintenance, and az a
result, while some counties know to Il
penny the purpose for which money was
spent, others have no definite check or
reporting system. Among various coun-
ties with the same conditions, cost for
excavation or other labor is anything but
uniform, and many counties, because Of
the absence of definite knowledge. fail
To use local and chcap materials and con-
struct roads which are unnecessarily ex-
penHvc for their purpose, or which will
wear ont before tho bond issues arc re-
doomed. The investigation will include
careful study of the use Of convict labor
in road construction.
In connection with the scientific study,
the Departments highway engineers will
advise freely with local officials AS To
improvements, and thus give each county
visited the advantage of direct coopera-
ton, engineering supervision and assist
ance.
These Investigations, IL Is believed, will
yield important economic data bearing
especially on the benefits and burdens of
road improvement and showing the ex.
tent to which financial outlay under
given typical conditions is justlfa5le.
The heads OF State highway depart
ments are mainiesting great interest and
are cooperating cordially in this work.
These data when obtained will he publish.
ed and thus made accessible TO all county
and state road officials.