The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-19

dertaking, and prevent bond Issues be-
ing based on guesses and the esd
mates Of inexperienced and interest
cd people. In several Of the counties.
bonds, have been voted where the
length Of the roads to be improved
and the estimated cost of the work to
be done were grossly underestimated.
and the bonds voted were not suf-
ficient to improve more than fifty to
sixty per cent of the roads as set out
In the order, and in some cases 1t must
have been fully, understood by some
Of the parties interested in the bond
issue. that this was the case---that is,
that it was physically impossible for
the county or the State to carry out
its obligations under the bond issue
election to the citizens of that county.
You can readily understand that this
has been a source Of great dissatisfac-
ton.
"A further amendment has been
prepared to both of these laws, re-
curing that boards of supervisors
shall lay an annual levy at a. rate
to insure a sum equal to, but not less
than three per centum of the amount
of bonds issued. or in lieu thereof, an
amount equal to the amount raised
from said levy, may be set aside by the
Board of Supervisors from other
funds of the county, but may be
raised by other means now provided
Tor by law. which sum shall be ex-
pended in the maintenance and up
keep Of the roads constructed and i'm
proved under the bond issue In
most instances. the counties OF the
State or the districts of the counties,
have voted bonds for the construc-
ton and improvement of roads and
made no provision whatever for the
maintenance and up-keep OF the same.
and 1t is only question Of time when
the road. which have been construct
ed win be entirely destroyed. and all
that the county with have left will be
the debt.
As to Automobile Laws.
IS. A bill has been prepared.
amending and re-enactinv the auto
mobile law. setting aside the license
tax received from this source. to be
placed in q maintenance fund for the
improvement OF roads and brid ges
which have been constructed with
State money aid or convict labor or
from the proceeds Of county or dis
trict bond issue. This fund to be dis
'A4bdNSo 10 Gal VI AIfc CoQAt4cS III INC
State In the same ratio In which the
State money, aid is now distributed.
That is. according TO the tax which is
now paid into the State treasury by
the county, this to be met by en- equal
amount from the county or district.
and to constitute a maintenance fund.
The plan contemplates that the
State Highway Commissioner and the
road authorities of county shall
agree as to the amount required for
the maintenance Of the roads and
bridges to be maintained. and in this
agreement, outline the character and
method Of work to be done on each
particular road or. bridge. and the
cost OF same That this work may
be done by the local road authorities.
or in any other way agreed on. and
when completed. according TO this
agreement, shall be paid for out Of
the maintenance fund. It further pro-
poses that where the whole appor-
tionnAnt Ia not used In the natnten-
ance OF roads or bridges. or where
no maintenance charge exists in 8
county, the whole or part thereof.
shall be expended In constructing new
roads or bridges until s. maintenance
charge is created.
I'VE believe that this fund can be
used to the very greatest advantages to
supplement the funds of counties and
districts in the maintenance and up
keep OF the roads.
This plan Of giving the State auto
mobile tax to the counties for the
maintenance OF improved roads is the
best suggestion which has been made
to us for providing the necessary
funds therefor. In view OF the fact
that the state Is following the plan OF
%aw It
purposes, we think this the best use
that can be made of the automobile
tax
Prisoners for Road Work.
"a A law requiring the sergesnt or
tstier to make monthly reports OF the
number OF prisoners and the term Of
their sentences. to the State Board OF
Charities and Corrections; this In ad-
d!tion to the reports wf Oh are cow
required to the superintendent OF the
penitentiary; also requiring the secre~
tary OF the Board OF Charities and Cor
rection to certify copies OF Theses re-
ports to the superintendent OF the pen
itentiary, but where a sergeant or
taller has failed 10 ssnd in has report
within Ave days after the date when
such report should be made. the secre-
tary Of the Board Of Charities and
Corrections shall cause a report to be
prepared from the books of the SER
geant or TALLER and certify the cost
OF same to the Auditor OF Public Ac-
counts. which amount shall he de-
Quoted from any funds which may be
due the said sergeant or jailer by
the Commonwealth. The board has at
the present time inspectors who can
be used for this purpose.
Waiting On Legislature
This. we believe. will enable us to
get a great many men from the jai!s
of the State for use on the reads. Al
the present time, camps are at work
In tflirty-four counties aid we have
applications on file from five addition
al cAenties, and we are simply waiting
on the Legislature TO give us the laws
under which we can obtain the money
and the men to establish these addi-
tiona1 camps. In addition TO this,
there are many of the camps now es-
ia biished in which we could use ad-
ditional men. This. we believe, is one
Of the most important questions which
confronts the present Virginia AS
sembly.
~. A bill has been prepared re-
curing that the convict or Jail man
shall be paid five cents per ten-hour
day for his services on the road The
p1nuav So raraiveA RI ha maid n tha