The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-17
|VfRAnEhT AID FOR
STATE ROAD BUILDING.
stant Hig hway Commissioners G.
b Scott Presents Views at
Roads Association Meeting.
; VIEWPOINT OF THE STATE
Scott, Who Has Made Study Of
Pe Federal Aid Bill Found His Dis
passion Well Observation-Disclosures
md Disadvantages shown.

sion, at the convention Of the
thern Appalachian Good Roads
octation. recently held in Lexing-
KY, delivered an address before
body, in which he discussed the
oral Aid Bill from the standpoint
he States
his bill was passed at the last Con-
=. and provides for a distribution
yI5, 100000 to the States 10 ex-
over period of five years. For
first year Virginia will receive
Ut $4,000, the money being dis
uted according to population and
cage.
r. Scott has given the provisions
ne bill considerable study, and his
ress was well received by the good
rs convention. His discussion was
follows.
ne principle reasons for the Ma
Al Governments aiding the States
ne construction of improved high
n. are:
|irst: The fact that interstate
Fel has increased to such an ex-
In recent years, that an un iue
improper burden has been Jlaced
n some States by reason OF the
nc passing through them to other
es. 1t may be. that a road which
pt slight importance To the State
bugh which II passes. forms a link
an important Interstate highway.
State through which such a road
YES, has little Undue ment to i'm
We II and yet If it Is not improved
nay hinder intercourse between a
hber of other States
econd: The necessity for construct
adequate highways for the trans
fation OF military forces, equip
ht and supplies. such highways be-
sometimes of small consequence
he States in which they are To-
I'd. but of supreme Importance TO
country as a whole.
bird: The fact that the Federal
|ernment has sources Of revenue
ependent of the States. which
(ild Justly be required to contri-
to the Improvement OF intcr-
e highways
ourth The advantage of the Fed-
Government. from po'- cal
ldpoint. in facilitating interc rse
reen the people OF the dir rent
les and thus preventing sectional
ousies and pretudices which. II
lied on to an extreme. might seri-
y hamper the progress and safety
the whole nation.
Advantages to States
mong the advantages TO the States
n cooperation by the Federal
|ernment in the improvement Of
public highways, we may con-
r.
he inducement. ana might al
say the requirement that the
(es shall all establish highways
krtment and thus handle the work
road improvement. in a scientific
systematic manner.
lore frequent opportunities for
bultation on the part of mem bers
the State Highway Departments
members OF the government Office
public roads, by means of which
Highway Department OF one State
have the advantage OF the ex-
ments and experience of high
departments in other States gath
by the once of Public Roads
he advantage OF observa ton of
methods OF the trained and ex-
enced employees OF the office OF
He roads and the object lessons
proper construction OF roads and
ges built with Federal aid. It
aid be the endeavor of the ONCE
Public Roads to attract men of
tough training and practical ex-
ence in order that it may have
e such men to represent it rather
mere theorists who are almost
lily lacking In that knowledge OF
fundamental principles of engi-
ing AZ well as proper regard
the rights and opinions OF others
ch are the foundation upon which
essful cooperation Is based.
Disadvantages OF Federal Aid.
he advantages from Federal aid.
Properly handled, should far out
h It's DISADVANTAGES. but we
lid not be blind to the fact that
. may be disadvantages and pos
dangers In such a system and
only by Intelligent and enicient
Agement can the disadvantages
the dangers he avoided.
expensive and unnecessary re-
ements are made on the part of
Federal Government with regard
methods Of surveying the roads
posed to be constructed and as
he form, details and number Of
y, plans and estimates required
The States. the expense to the
81 will be so heavy as to be bur-
rome and may even result In
OF the poorer States falling to
themselves of their allotment
sr the act The requirements on
part of the government in this
ect. should be the least that good
tice and proper regard for aocu-
will permit.
unnecessarily expensive and waste
methods of construction. should
hvoided by the Federal Govern
II, as the benefit derived from
Federal appropriation will other
be minimumized and IL the
hods are too costly. the States
better afford to do without the
eral Aid and build such roads as
own resources will permit. The
81, on :he other hand, should not
let t. do 'wa~k OF an inferior or
pcrery nature with Federal aid,
Tho roads constructed by this
NJ should be at a substantial and
kble character.
he people of all the States are in
oted IN the expenditure Of the
sral aprrop riation In every State
II should FIRST be applied to Inter-
highways or very important
highways Of a State and no part
should be used IN the oonstruc-
u roads which are only OF local
hate Importance.
Is Of the greatest dangers in the
Alnnsd from First Pass).