The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-14

Isaac r. Hit. in plea for better
roads in this State has sent out let
ter dealing with this subject from the
viewpoint of the need of good roads
to the State and also from the View
point of the cost 10 the community IN
keeping roads ia good condition Of
repair, says the Norfolk Vtrgtnian-
Pilot Mr. Hit quotes an article from
Governor Goldsborough. of Maryland,
dealing with the state road system Of
Maryland. which is given in part be
low. and which he states he wishes
could be read by every resident of
Virginia
Governor Goldsborougn's article is
In part as follows.
'1t Is believed that al the end OF
this year Maryland will be the FIRST
State I'm the Union to have completed
a continuous connected main -arterial
system of modern state highways. ra-
dating from the Industrial and geo
graphical center OF the state at Balti-
more and connecting the county seats
of each of the twenty three counties
with each other and with Baltimore.
This will soon include the longest prae-
tically continuous section OF modern
road in the United states. being nearly
400 miles from, Oakwood In the heart OF
the Allegheny Mountains at the west
ern border OF the State, to Ocean City
on the Atlantic Ocean, at It's south
eastern extremity. The state is also
constructing the Hanover Street bridge
in the city OF Baltimore. which VIII
be one and half miles long over all.
Including approaches, will cost approx
mateIy sf.250 ooo. and is the longest,
most expensive bridge in the state.
besides being the largest ever built by
State highways commission. The
State is also expanding In the corpor-
ate limits OF Baltimore $32b0,0o0 on all
kinds Of city street paving of the
highest type. The State has likewise
constructed boulevard forty miles
long between Baltimore and Washing
ton. and one of thirty-nve miles be-
tween Baltimore and Annapolis.
..Iu 1910, forty-six miles of road were
constructed: In 1911, eighty-seven; In
Iia12. 1854; in 1919. 2o3: and In 1914 and
1915 the system will be substantially
completed.
The average cost per mile OF these
roads was s1o.4s1 In 1910, $l2,2e6. in
ia11: s1o.s33 in 1912. and 3s.2ss in
1913. with a general average of ss.ssS
for the main system. The average cost
of the aggregate OF ass miles finished
on total maintenance per mile includ-
ing oiiing. patrol service and all other
expenses connected Herewith was $40
in 1912. and $4s4 In 1913. These roads
are constructed and maintained ex-
clusively by the State,
The building OF our State roads sys.
tenn has been conducted on business
principles entirely free from politics
and Ii hes had the communication of
our citizens irrespective OF class or
party. The roads have increased the
value OF property and the sentiment OF
the state is almost unanimous for the
continuation OF state road building.
in addition to the state roads pro-
per our State roads commission is
constructing State aid system In
which the state pays so per cent OF
the cost, the county 40, and the ada
cent property owners, 10, the roads be-
ing maintained by the county after
completion. For this the state appro-
PIRATES 100000 per year. ,...
Mr.. Hits letter Is as follows:
The state of Virginia can wsif Taxa