The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-12-16

nkfort.-Kentucky was one OF
the first states In the union to estab-
lish state aid for road construction.
AS early as 1910 the General Assembly
OF Kentucky provided for the open
ing Of roads to the Virginia line and
began the construction OF macadam-
tied roads In 1920
Prior to 1910. Kentucky had spent
more than 100000 In the construe-
lOn OF macadamized roads which
we're built on rights OF way sixty feet
wide These roads were located on
light grades and easy curves. and
were graded twenty.four to thirty feet
between bitches Telford foundations
between sixteen and twenty.four feet
were used with a good macadam sur
face This work was under the super
vision OF state engineering depart
ment, consisting OF a state highway
engineer at a salary OF $1,000 per
year, with a corps OF assistants at
salaries ranging from Sl.lOO to $4,000
per annum. Many OF these roads are
yet in a splendid state OF preservation,
and ara rendering substantial service
20 the communities through which
they pass
However, the policy OF internal i'm
proyement was discontinued prior TO
1850. owing TO the financial condition
OF the treasury, and a change In POI
litical parties. and II was not until
1908 that any attempt was made to re.
Yiye a state system OF highways.
In 1908 the General Assembly of
Kentucky passed constitutional
amendment permitting the state to
lend lis credit to the counties for road
building, and to provide for the con
struction and maintenance OF public
highways.
a highway department was estab-
llshed to consist OF the Commissioner
OF Public Roads and such assistants
as the Governor might deem adyisa.
Bile. with an appropriation OF not to
exceed $4,000 per annum from the
automobile license tax which had been
socruing from 1910 as a state road
fund
The department was organized and
Robert c. Terrell was appointed the
first commissioner The duties OF the
department were purely advisory, and
while the counties were required to
request plans. specifications and esti-
mates Of cost for the road and bridge
work. which exceeded $500 in cost,
they were not compelled to use he
plans and speclhcai ons thus prepared.
II was not until after the state aid
law passed Ly the General Assembly
OF 1914 became operative that the
state Was really In a position to lend
material aid TO the counties Although
a great deal was accomplished by the
commissioner and his assistants prior
TO 1910, II was only. as stated above.
advisory, which In many instances II
was hard TO get the county officials
10 take advantage OF the engineering
assistance offered. but in 1914 the gen.
eral assembly passed a law levying a
fiye-ccnt tax on each Sl00 worth Of tax.
able property In the state OF Kentucky.
The law further provided that the
money should be distributed to the
counties based upon the amount OF
money levied and collected in each
county for roadbuilding, and that no
county should receive In any one year
more than two per cent OF the total
road fund. The department imme-
diately set to work in the spring OF
1915 to secure the cooperation OF the
counties In building a system OF roads
as laid out In the bill passed by the
General Assembly. which provided
that the roads should connect up the
county seat OF each county OF the Com.
monwoalth with the county seats OF
the adjoining counties by the most
direct aud practical route. and the
county seats OF border counties with
the state line on the most direct and
practical routes leading from said
county seats TO the county seats OF
the adjoining counties in the adjacent
states