Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-23
WORKING ON PLANS FOR
maintenance OF ROADS
iu'on bile Tax VIII BE Available
.'fter This Year for Re
pairs and Upkcep.
MEETS LoNG.NEEDED WANT
'nunties Have Bonded Themselves,
Built Roads and Then Let Them
Wear Out Without Any. Super
vi,!ou or Attention.

With approximately $3.50, 900 TO be-
q 'onc available In 1917 for road main
icndnxe as the result OF the change In
lhr automobile law. AMI perhaps a like
amount to be contributed by the coun-
y l'"s for the same purpose the State
q Highway Commission has addressed it
q II with increased vigor TO the work
- out or Il comprehensive roud main
3 ua"co plan.
.un;ll the last Legislature extended
s q" iclpinG ia,nd All attempts 10 pro-
i.ie Al adequate system OF maintenance
4 sou the 1900 miles OF road which have
been constructed under State supar-
Vision have gone down in failure. Even
with tho help OF the revenue from the
automobile tax-cstimntcd at $3.50. 600
1 IL VIII only be possible to take care
OF Il portion OF this mileage.
w particular, Commissioners Coleman
cHp'cts decided benefits from & >full de-
vei,p nent OF tho plan under which the
bc'ier class OF prisoners may be ON
plofed as patroi'hcn and gangmen in
Tho maintenance OF roads which they
have constructed A beginning in this
direction has already been made with
tho Governors assistance, In making
available force for this purpose. Mr.
Coleman believes, the State will gain
valuable instrument for use IN the
GOOD roads cause.
TO CARE FOU SECTIONS OF ROAD
The Governor has the power to M
tolc promising prisoners who. under
INC plan suggested. would be assigned
certain stretches OF road 10 keen up
These men could bo paid "a nor diem
possibly from the Joint State and coun-
y maintenance funds.
Jndcr ono OF tho bills passed by the
last General Assembly the boards OF
lcv! annually. OF appropriate FROM
'ht.r general funds, for road maintcn-
aht2. sum equal 10 not loss than z
per cent Of the amount OF bonds issued
III nc COUNT or district for road coz
Struction. This sum Is 10 be oXnoud-
c'i under tho general maintenance pI;,n
OF Inc state Highway Commission.
This law" sAId Commissioner Colo
man yesterday, was made necessary
~ the failure OF the local authorities
TO provide sufflcicnt funds for the main
tcmance of the roads after their con
ttrnction n great many Of the coun-
ties had bonded themselves for
amounts varying from $4,000 TO ST.
10000 for the construction OF I'm
proved roads. but had made TO provi
sion for the preservation OF the i'm.
rrovement after IT had been made. thus
d"pr!Ving the citizens Of the county Of
the benefits which should have accrued
10 them from the expenditure Of large
sums or money. While this law IS not
fHt'~actire. it will proven. rccur-
ro'irc cf these conditions in the future :"
les FIRST REAL FUND
FOR uOADeNI AISTESANcE
nc amendment OF the automobile
eAse so as to make the income from,
t!ia source available for road main
toauncc instead OF road construction
brought contamination for which the
STATE Highway Department has con-
tended Tor many years This law Dro-
ridcs that the income from automobile
licenses shall constitute Il special fund
'" DC expended under the direction Of
The state Highway Commissioner for
tile maintenance of roads and bridges
II is TO be distributed in the same man
ner in which the State money aid is
now distributed, except that the fund
is made applicable to the roads Of all
the counties whether constructed with
convict labor or not, and whether con-
structed with State aid or from the
proceeds Of local bond issues.
The law does not become effective
until June Is, and, therefore. the
amount derived from the automobile
licenses for 1915 after that date will
be small With the slight change in
the automobile tax rate itself, the rev
cnne from this source, 1t is expected
will he $4,000 in 19l7-the first wear
when the full amount of the tax will
he availa bic for the maintenance Of
roads.
MANY ROADS BUILT AND
LEFT TO WEAR OUT
This. together with an equal amount
from the counties of the State" said
MIR. Coleman yesterday, will yield a
joint State and county road maintc-
nance fund Of about 100000. While
II will not be sufficient to maintain
the $500 miles OF road which have
been constructed under State super
vision, tt VIII go a long way In that
direction. II must be fully understood
'hat a great many of the roads con-
structed five or six years ago have,
ON account Of lack OF maintenance de-
t"riorated to such an extent that the
question with respect to such roads is
not one OF maintenance, but really of
reconstruction.
The State has been assisting the
various counties in road construction
for approximately ten years. While