The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-01-13
Good Roads.

tlon to the following facts:
First. South Carolina is spending
approximately $1,000, 900 a year on it's
roads-practically 3-mill tax. This
sum is raised by county taxation and
is expended on the chain gangs, roads
and bridges entirely through county
| agencies. -...
Second. Forty-two States have es-
tablished State highway departm ents
| to do educational or administrative
work, or both, in behalf. Of good roads.
South, Carolina is one Of six that still
follow the system of county or local
management. Viewing the matter
nationally and for. century and a
| quarter. local road management has
resulted in striking lack of progress.
| despite the fact that there is now be-
| ing spent in the United States in this
way more than $3.50, 100000. Only in
| those States which have adopted q
State policy has there been real mark
| ed progress in highway construction.
There are now more than, 1000 miles
of State highways, and no State after
having once adopted State policy
has reverted to the old plan of man.
agement.
Third. Under the terms of the Fed
eral' Aid Road Act no State can re-
ceive it's apportionment until a. State
highway department has been estab-
lishedi and the necessary cooperative
machinery provided. Failure to Gre
ate, a State highway department, in
accordance with the provision of this
Federal Act, means the forfeiture of
South Cardinals "apportionment OF
Federal aid, which, for the five fiscal
years ending June 80, 1921, totals
more than $1,00O,000. .t ,>. a..
Fourth. For motor vehicles there
is now being collected in this State a
perennial license of 81. 90 per car. The
Federal government estimates, the
revenue accruing from this source to
have been $4,000, in 1916. Taking
the United States as a whole, the aver
age gross revenue return per motor
car registration was $7.46-more than
seven times that being secured by
South Carolina.
These. four facts, among others,
emphasize. the need for your giving
careful consideration at this. time to
the whole question Of better roads. To
meet the situation will require, in my
judgment, the enactment of, st. least
two laws: First, law creating a
State. highway: department and as
sentingi to the provisions of the Fed
eral Aid Road, Act; second, a motor
vehicle law requiring the licensing of
motor vehicles by the State ana the
use on the roads Of the net revenue
thus derived
Torrens System.
AT the, last session Of the General
Assembly you adopted the Torrens
System of Land, Registration. I re-
gard this action then, as do. now,
as a most important prerequisite to
rural credits and successful opera
ton of the Federal Land Loan Bank.
The act which was passed has not
proved q practical measure, and /
q asy, ,nctvN
ments to the Act as will make 1T prac-
tical and workable and an, n,economical
means Of determining the validity Of
title to- land. - ..,,
1. trust YOU will realize the import
ance Of this measure.
Rural Credits.
In my first message to the legislaI
ture urged the passage OF Rurai
Credits Act. Since that time the Fed
'era1 government has enacted a long
term rural credits law. The South.
especially, is to be congratulated on
the adoption Of this law, and South
Carolina is particularly fortunate in
securing the location Of this bank in
Columbia. Therefore, it will be un-
necessary for the State to adopt suck
n law in addition to the Federal law.
The action Of the Federal government
in enacting the Federal Land Loan
Bank is particularly opportune At
this time 1t will furnish the means
by which those who are tenants may
buy their homes; or those who own
their land can secure funds to im-
prove their farms, and to adapt. them
selves to n system of diversified farm
ing. made imperative by reason Of the
approach Of the boil weevil. It is i'm
portant, however in view of the high
rates of interest which many small
fn rc,orc, nnty havo nav Cor