The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-25

except to keep bitches and culverts
open. The roads were beginning TO
show signs OF wear and In 1918,
twenty-four miles we're surface treat
ed with bituminous material and
stone ships at cost OF about $500
per mile. paid from bond-issue funds.
bout one-haf gallon of bituminous
material and twenty one pounds of
screenings were used TO the square
ward The roads which were treated
are the most heavily travelled roads
f the county. Tsis work was done
ny the district superintendents under
the general direction of the board OF
county supervisors.
The use OF bond issue funds for
maintenance is exceedingly unwise
as the debt outlives the temporary
Improvement by many years.
Effect OF Improvement on Value.
A comparison of assessed valua-
tons brings out the fact that in 1910,
The year in which the bonds were
voted. tho assessed valuation was
sI1.01l,7sS and that in 1915 1t had
Increased to $1S.62s.3S3, a gain of
$2,617,595. or PAT per cent. The
mineral lands, which formed 43.6 per
cent of the total value OF all pro-
perry In 1915. showed a decrease OF
4 per cent In value. as some lands
which were q AeSsed as mineral lands
IN 1910 we're assessed as nonmineral
ands in 1915. and furthermore. the
building OF the improved roads would
naturally have a paratively slight
effect upon the value OF mineral
ands as the operation OF the mines
depends more upon railroad than
public road facilities. The nonmiA-
eral lands. however, increased near
y 81 per cent from 1910 to 1916.
1t In difficult to gauge the increase
in actual values by assessed valua
ton figures, as the relation between
sseaCed value and actual varies from
20 10 90 per cent and probably aver
ages about so per cent OF the actual
value.
Personal investigation however. as
TO sale values brought out some con-
sincing evidence as TO the effect OF
.he improved roads upon sale values.
OF the large number of individual
cases considered. eight, selected as
fairly representative. are presented
N this chapter. The value OF these
eight farms located on improved
roads in various parts OF the county
increased 6l.9 per cent, or from an
average of $4,000 per acre before the
roads were improved to s79.44 after
the roads were improved. and 1t Is
ommonly accepted in the county
that the Increased value was due al
most entirely to the road improve
ment.
farm near Biz Stone Gap, con-
.taining 100 acres. was valued in 1910
at $40 an acre and in 1918 at 500
per acre,
a farm one mile cast OF Coeburn,
= obtaining 100 acres, was valued at
$50 per acre in 1910. before the road
was improved, ant in 1918 at $50
per acre.
4 portion or a farm between Big
stone Gap and Minton, containing
thirty acres, was sold In 1914, after
the road was improved, for $50 per
arce. This whole farm was pur-
chased in 908 for $40 per acre.
tract between Coeburn and Nor
ION, containing twelve acres, was pur-
chased in 1910 for s33 per acre. and
was Sold by the purchaser in 1914
for $3.50 per acre
A portion of farm on the road
rom Wise to the Dickinson county
inc originally contained cry acres.
valued in 1911 az $40 per acre, and
was sold in 1912 for $50 per acre.
On the same road, thirty-hye OF
the l60 acres of farm, valued at
$50 per acre in 1911, sold In 1912 |
for $40 per acre. II
farm between Norton and Wise, {
containing thirty acres vrmn valued !.