Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-20
COL EMAN OUTLINESPLAN
q FOR STATE HIGHWAYS
Virginia Commissioner Makes Address at Annual Meet
ing of State Good Roads Associations Strongly Sup
ports Report of Goolrick Commission.

! eral rule these are to be constructed
for medium traffic, but with an eye to
further Improvement should the traffic
, Increase 10 such an extent as TO rev
guirc Il heavier class of construction
THIRD The county and district sys-
tenn. TO be composed of the minor
county roads. aud to be we'll graded
and drained 10 serve for short hauls
and liEht traffic.
WOULD AMEND
STATE CONSTITUTION
Fifth. We recommend that as I'M
der our present Constitution II la inn
possible to issue State bonds for road
Improvement. that steps be- taken i'm
modatcly to amend the Constitution
for this purpose. This Is, in my Iudg-
m.nt, the most important question con-
fronting us to-day, nud We must wake
up to the fact that Virginia. TO keep
abreast OF present day progress, must
have highway transportation. We
must have o. proper highway system
for the development and expansion of
our wonderful resources, or else close
our doors 10 progress and advance
mcnt.
Pending this change in the Constitu-
tion. the state should impose spc-
Cial tax for road construction purposes
which should be used in the ronstruc-
ti"n OF tho main state highway Sys.
tom, and then as Il basis on which to
Issue bonds; that Is, the amount de-
rived from this source should ba used
AFTER the Constitution has been amend
ed. and after bonds have been issued
10 pay the interest on the bonds ISSUED
and as Il sinking fund 10 retire them
IT has been suggested that the auto
mobile fund could I've used in this way,
possibly u very good idea If some other
provision was made for road MAIN
n is
Of greater Importance than road con-
struction. The automobile fund was
segregated TO maintenance by the last
General Assembly, and therefore should
not be changed. but some other plan.
such as the special State lcvy sug-
EcstGd above, adopted by the State.
In every change made or plan adopted,
maintenance should always he in mind;
in other words. your plans for con-
struction should not outstrip your ar
ranScments for maintenance.
CONVICT ROAD LAW
TO EE EXTENDED
Sixth. We recommend the extension
OF the present convict road force TO
take in ali of the ablebodied prisoners
now employed in the penitentiary on
contract work the present contract
ends III October of this year,. these
men to be used, as far as possible, to
establish permanent quarries, gravel
preparation Of materials for construc-
ton and maintenance purposes, par
ticularly for the preparation of ma
toiials for maintcnnncc. During the
past twelve months !t has been ex-
ceedinSly difficult 10 obtain the nee
cssarN materials Of this character on
account Of inadequate transportation
facilities and limited supply. This last
WIS caused principally by the govern
ments use OF I'LL road building ma
tcrials iii the construction OF tho Vari-
Gus cantonmorts. We have no promise
that these conditions will improve
during the coming year, but we know
positively TINT materials must be OBJ
lined for maintenance, or else the
State and tn" counties Will suffer
heavy loss. There is no doubt i'm my
mind, after twelve years experience
III using conviCts On road work. that
plans along these lines can no worked
out 10 the very great advantage Of
the prisoners and the State MS n whole.
Seventh. We recommend that III,
Highway Department I've allowed
greater discretion in fixing sala rieS OF
thr employees Of the department. This
IN" r"en Il source of very great loss 20
The State particularly the ras. three
or four wears. We have really hcen
ruInin. Il t"ainirE school In highway
wnrS 'nr other States whose highway
departments are In 4 position to pay
very much higher salaries than we
~" in Virginia
KEGt iRES SERVICES
or TRAINED ENGiNEr:nS
n'aIntain. in snitc al statements to
the contrary. that road building re-
cures the services Of we'll trained en-
%tne"rS-m-n who arc thoroughly con
Ncrsart with every detail OF the work
and who are therefore better able to
cone with the many problems which
confront The road builder than the lay
mani even with the best Intentions
Eighth We recommend that the gen
oral road laws OF tho State he revised
;'n" that all Of In" counties IF the
state I've required IL work Endcr Che
stat" law. The muitiriplicity Of laws
at tl" prescott time are certainly most
cor ilir,inG. There are eighty odd ooun,
les "orNtnG under special laws, and
any county board is allowed to adopt
any part o" III" whole % any other
County's special law which is confusion
wors" concluded Al the present Ii,ne
N several OF In" counties IT Is i'm
possible TO say just which body OF Of
lcerS constitute TIE local road authuri-