The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-11
HIGHWAY OFFICIALS TO
COORDINATE SYSTEMS.
Executive Committee of National As
sociatton TO Develop Roads
Program.
COLEMAN HEADS ASSOCIATION
Virginia Commissioner VIII Attend
Executive Committee Session in the
North in short time-Sfaintcnancc
Question Important

The coordination Of the systems
OF road-bu.lding ami maintenance of
all the States of the nation is the task
confronting the executive committee
OF the Association of American State
Highway officials at its meeting to
be held shortly" stated Commissioner
George l., Coleman. of the state High
way Department. yesterday In dis
cussing the results OF the meeting OF
the association held In St Louis last
week. Mr.. Coleman was elected pres
ident OF the Association of State High
way Officials. which makes him az
offcio member OF the executive COM
nlittss. 1t Is expected that this body
Will meet some time IN January. either
In Washington or Philadelphia
At the convention OF the highway
ofhciais held in St Louis, the domi-
mating subject of discussion was the
application OF the Federal aid road
bill passed by Congress at its last ses-
sion, and It's bearing on the road laws
OF the different States. II was found
that the laws varied TO such an extent
and were such a would not be &C
ceptable TO the government In many
instances they will have to be recast
and different provisions OF others
changed. Under the Federal aid bill
no State can receive funds for roads
from the government until the road
laws have been submitted and ap-
proved.
Develop National System
II VIII be the purpose OF the meet
ING % the executive committee of the
association. composed of mem bers
from all over the country, TO have
each State establish a we'l-deflned
system OF road building. These will
he brought together. the work co-or-
dinated, and what MAY he termed
national svstem Of road building de-
veloped. Then will follow the impor-
tant task OF estab lishtng system of
maintenance work, which as yet has
been satisfactorily handled by only a
few States
Tt Is on the coordination Of the
state road laws and systems Of appl-
cation that depends the real benefit
from the Federal air bill" declared
Mt. Coleman. The distribution Of the
funds under this law is "a monumental
work, and one fraught with difficulties.
To do this work and receive the hem
efts of the act. We must irst have
the cooperation OF the States
AT present the system OF road
building in many OF the Common
wealths OF the nation IS loose. and
consequently not acceptable to tho
government. What wc want to do r.
70 have these States establish a sys-
tenn that would be approved by the
government and operate in harmony
with the States surrounding. For In
stance, II Virginia would build a road
q sEn ~ az 10, Sar.
between this state and West Virginia
we want the systeSns Of the two States
to operate that the road we built
would meet one OF the adjoining State
thus making the highway continu-
Qua.
Maintenance Important
( Up to this time very few States
have a satisfactory system of mainte-
nance. This work is of the greatest
Importance. for 1t Is folly TO put large
sums in roads, unless they will be
properly cared for Maryland has the
most advanced maintenance system.
and Pennsylvania. Virginia and other
states OF the East are working out
plans along this line. what is known
ms the patrol system will be used In
Virginia, Under this plan. man IS
put in charge Of say Ave miles of road.
and It VIII be hts sole duty to iii all
holes that may appear. and prevent
ing water from standing In the road
bed. Ordinarily ons man csn do this
work. II. however. the condition OF
the road becomes such as to require
more extensive repairs. this man VIII
autify his resident engineer, who Will
send road gang to rebuild worn
parts OF the highway"
Mr.. Coleman stated that II was
highly probable th%t the meeting OF
Tn" committee woulN he held In. Wash
iurton. as they would then be IN touch
with the government. thus facilitating
their work. IT r. expected that the
next place OF meeting for the national
association viii be decided on at this
meeting.
Virginia's sharn Of the distribution
under the Federal aid bill Is some
th~lg over 100000 This money is
apportioned according to population
and road mileage. the total amount
available being increased annually for
I've years The bill calls for total
distribution during that period of s75,-
THO 900