The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-12-27
HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE.

Public attention is being directed
anew to the subject of highway con-
struction and maintenance since all
restrictions have been removed by
the war industries board. The good
roads spirit in Tennessee had reach
ed an effective stage when the war
came on to halt activities.
The state highway department had
planned a system of public roads to
receive state and federal aid. Many
counties had floated bonds with which
to construct highways and there was
a general movement to improve the
public roads systems everywhere. But
all of these plans and preparations
were held up by the war, and in the
meantime with but little maintenance
work being done the roads already
built have suffered
OF even more Importance than the
construction of highways is the main
tenance of them, and it is the feature
Of the work that is to receive the
first attention of the state highway
department and the engineering de-
partment of the University of Tennes-
see in the renewed good roads activi-
ties. 1t is worse than no roads for
county to issue large amount OF
bonds, spend the money on road con-
struction and then sit down and do
nothing to keep up the extensively
constructed highways. Such action
has an effect on public opinion in
direct conflict with what is desired.
The taxpayers become Disguised and
resolve that If their money is to be
wasted in such way they will no
longer permit it to be expended.
Touching upon this point, Chas. E.
Ferris, dean of the engineering de-
partment of the University of Ten
nessee, writes as follows to The Her
aid:
lone of the fundamental errors that
the counties of Tennessee have prac-
tically all committed is lack of main
tenance after the property has been
created 1t is extremely important
that some official in each county
know of the proper methods of main
tenance and see that they are applied
when new road is constructed"
Maury county is in a peculiar situa-
ton as regards road maintenance.
Having taken over tho extensive mile
age of privately owned turnpikes, the
county has found itself with more
roads to maintain than any existing
source of revenue is adequate to meet.
No matter what system of manage
ment may be in operation it is a
patent fact that the present income
for road maintenance is not sufficient
for 1000 miles or more of roads.
The turnpikes bought by the coun-
ty might have been in pas SADLY
good condition at the time they were
taken over but there was not avail
= able, and under the present revenue
/. there will not be available, sufficient
funds to keep these main roads in
good condition while at the same time
maintaining the numerous cross roads
and highways of less Importance in a
pa ssable condition. To do that with
the present funds would require the
ability of wizard engineer, and no
such wizards have made their appear
ance.
The time is coming when Maury
county must take its place abreast of
the other progressive counties of the
state by issuing bonds for the con-
struetion of modern highways. A good
roads bond issue would go further in
Maury county than in many other
counties where systems of good roads
4 have been built. The present turn
pixies could be utilized with but few
changes and with comparatively small
expense, while materials for con
struction of new roads and the repair
CT the old ones is available close at
hand
No bond issue for the construction
of new highways and the repair of
the old ones should be made, how.
ever, under any circumstances unless
ample provision is made for their con.
tinuous maintenance. Maury county
should never commit the fundamental
error that Dean Ferris warns against