The Robesonian., 1917-03-12
ROAD BUILDING IN THE SOUTH
Manufacturers Record.

Manufacturers Record.
Louisiana, which has encountered
difficult problems in road building,
has become tie terminus of many in
ter-State highways, and this has
stimulated its people to the improve
ment of roads within the State. To
connect New Orleans, the principal
city, with these highways S500,000I
was spent on a 28-mile road leading
to the highlands of Mississippi, and
little doubt is expressed that the next
State Legislature will vote favorably
upon a constitutional amendment ap-
propriating S15,0O0,OOO to S25,000,-
900 for building State highways.
maryland, which is looked upon
g., model in State highway develop
rent, has to date expended s18,00O,-
will have available for this work a
tota' of S5,350,000. These State roais
reach every corner Of the State.
They have been built of perman anent
materials, and represent a splendid
vantages and possibilities of central
lied State work.
"In Missippi 1917 promises to be
the banner year for good roads, and
it is expected that over $3,00O,000
will be expended. One county alone
in this State has provided 100000
in bonds to build concrete roads at
an average cost of S1,OOOO? per mile.
''In Missouri there (are approx
mately 200 special road districts in
the different counties which have vot-
ed bonds ranging from $4,000 to
100000. Some of the counties vot-
ing countrywide bond issue are st.
Louis, $3,OOO,OOO; Jefferson, $780,
900, and
"North Carolina has been one of
the most active of the Southern
States in highway improvement. Dur
ing 1915 S5,100,O0O was spent for
maintenance and new construction,
while in 1917 it is expected that at
least S6,000,0O0 will be available for
such work. In the report from the
State a general tendency is shown
to put in more durable materials
than ever before.
"In Oklahoma State road systems
have been established and approved
in all of the II counties, and county
commissioners are concentrating their
efforts on the construction of these
roads in the order of their import
ance, thus giving definite plan to
secure the greatest possible benefits
to all people Of the State. A number
of county bond issues have been pro-
vided for hard-surfaced roads in Ok
| lahoma. Fees collected from the reg
i5tration of motor vehicles amount to
S750,000, and of this $25O,OOO will be
devoted to maintenance and S5OOO0O
to new construction.
"Road work in South Carolina has
received decided impetus recently, and
1T is stated that quite wave of pub
lie sentiment for better highways in
many counties has appeared. South
Carolina is expected to become very
active in providing increased funds
for better roads.
"The counties throughout Tennes-
see have for some years shown un-
usual progres5iveness in the improve
ment of their roads, and it is stated
that 81 counties at this time have or
are now constructing roads bv bond
ISSUES totaling $18,OOO,OOO, with bond
issues now pending and being ex-
pended during this year of s1O,OOO,-
900, with special county appropria-
tions of $1,OOO,OOO for roads and
bridges.
'.Texas" with it's enormous area
and extensive road mileage, during
the past year spent approximately
SzO,OOO,OOO on road construction and
1t is stated that indications are that
this amount will be at least doubled
this year, making $40,OOO,OO0 as the
amount Texas will spend for road
work in 1917. Texas has 258 coun-
ties, and Of these 203 are active in
highway improvement.
"ln Virginia road work was carried
on in 1916 in practically all the coun-
ties OF the State, and little over 715
miles Of roads were built at cost of
$l,6OO,G00, in addition to 67 bridges
now under contract, costing $780,
900, while during the past twelve
months twelve counties have issued
a total Of $1,570,6OO in bonds for
road and bridge work. For 1917 it
is estimated that total funds for
road work will be $2,25O,OOO, with
100000 additional available for
maintenance.
West Virginia, typical mountain
State, Where road construction is diff
flcu!t and expensive, has thoroughly
awakened to the influence which CON.
structlon of good roads will have up-
on the broadest development of the
States resources, and since 1912 has
voted total of $13,28O,OO0 for road
work, while within the next month
$2,525,O00 in bonds will be voted up
on. Last year bonds were voted to
the extent of $7,678, 500.
I'm addition to this work, howev-
er, many additional funds will be
provided by each of the States to CO.
operate with the Government in
building roads under the Federal road
act. During the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1917, the sixteen Southern
States will receive from the Govern
ment $l,7O4,928 which, matched by
an equal amount by the States, will
make a total of nearly s3,5OO,OO