Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-20


Address Tuesday before the Virginia
the auditorium Of Murphy's Hotel:
deem it great privilege to BIO
given an opportunity to bring to the
attention OF your association tho
changes which are needed In the pres
cht road laws. and to offer for your
consideration new laws. which we know
are necessary for the work which
We have in hand, as we'll az for the
fYefeiopment and welfare OF the various
interests which all of US represent
Tho time has arrived. in my judy
fnent, when this state should make a
determined forward movement in road
matters: when our work should be CO.
ordinatcd along definite we'll defined
INES: when we should work with one
accord and with united effort for n
state highway system, system we'll
Tanned and carefully thought out
Having this In mind. we recommended
TO tho last General Assembly the ap-
pointment OF a legislative road COM
mittee to formulate such Il system and
10 present the same with their rec
Concentrations to the present General
Assembly. This committee has made
iis report and Senator Goolrick.
chairman OF the committee. who is
on your program. will outline to you
Tomorrow tho general scope OF his
committees report. know OF no
more important work than that under
taken by your committee. and l be-
tteak your full and hearty indorse-
ment OF tho system which they have
/ recommends and hope that you viii
work for It's adoption by the present
j General Assembly.
MUST ADOPT SYSTEM
FOH ENTIRE STATE
To conform to the requirements Of
tho Federal aid road act and to par
ticipato In the Appropriation made I'M
der this act, wo must adopt State
highway system following the gem
Grail plan as suggested By this COM
mittee. We therefore recommend:
- First That the systcm proposed
by tho committee be adopted and that
this State highway system be con-
Il structed entirely by the state. and
that for this purpose we use all Fed
eral aid road funds, together with an
equal amount from the general State
funds and such convict labor aid as
Isand such other funds as may be placed
at our disposal by the State or by the
1, COUNTIES for this purpose.
There Will be available on July l
CT this year on the part Of the Federal
|, government for this purpose approx
+mately 100000. which. added to a like
amount from the State. you'd give US
joint fund OF 100000 for this years
l. work; approximately 100000 WAL be
available from the government for
next year. wnlch %Oulu give us JOINT
fund OF $4,000. This, you will see.
Will give US n small start in the RICH,
direction.
Second We recommend that TO com
ply with she requirements OF the Fed
era! aid road act. that the State high
way system az constructed and as com
pleted be maintained entirely by the
State. This act makes it obligatory
4 on the part OF the State to maintain
~ It's road. and that. therefore. for this
lpurpose SO much OF the automobile IL
License tax may be required shall be
fset aside each year, this amount 20 be
| determined from estimates made by the
j. highway commissioner. | wish To en-
J. phas!ze the fact that the Federal act
requires that the state shall! maintain
a road, after II has been construct ed.
up 10 certain standards set by the gov
eminent. and that YOU may understand
fully these requirements. am going
TO read you the maintenance clause OF
that act:
STATE MUST MAINTAIN
ROADS ONCE nUU.r
TO maintain the roads constructed
under the provisions OF this act shall be
the duty OF the States. or their civil
subdivisions. according 20 the laws Of
the several States. II at any tine the
Secretary OF Agriculture shall fad that
any road in any State construct ed
under tho provisions OF this act IS not
being properly maintained he shall
i.give notice OF such fact TO the high
way department OF such Sta;e. and IL
within four months from the receipt
of said notice said road has not been
put In u proper condition OF Inatntn-
nance, then tho Secretary Of ASricul-
ture shall thereafter refuse TO approve
any project for road construction in
said state. or the civil! subdivision
. u
duty Il is TO maintain said road. until
il has been put In a condition OF proper
maintenance
TAKE OVER CARE
= OF PRESENT HIGHWAYS
We also recommend that the State
: take over 1t once for maintenance any
y section or sections OF tho proposed
state highway system which have al
ready been constructed and which are
in the judgment OF the highway com
missioner. in mainta!nahlc condition. or
any sections which may hereafter be
70 constructed by the counties according
TO the plans and specifications OF the
State This will relieve the counties
of all maintenance cost on the sections
: adopted, and Will give the counties
these funds TO be used on other work
Third. We recommend that the coun-
ties OF the State Shall lay out county
- highway systems. to include only the
main travelled roads OF the county, these
, to be constructed by the counties to-
Eether with such State money aid and
, convict labor as may be available from
year to year; that these county sys-
. tens shall be approved by the State
: highway commissioner before State aid
= can he used in their construction, this
' construction to be carried on entirely
3 by the local road authorities OF the
: Counties. and these roads to he main
' tanned by the counties to. meet the
I, approval of the highway commissioner
y from county fund and such assistance
= as may be given the counties by the
(. state from the automobile maintenance
=. funds. The state would in this way
y be requiring Of the counties very much
& the same plan for maintenance as re-
= quired Of the State under the Federal
: aid road act
= MINOR ROADS TO BE
: IMPROVED BY COUNTIES
!, Fourth. We recommend that the
F. minor roads Of the counties shall be
' constructed and maintained entirely by