The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-12-13
Good Roads Convention En-
dOrses Plan Gotten Up BY
Committee:
SCHEME WELL UNDER WAY
Legislature Will Be Asked to
Enlarge the Powers and Per
s6nnel of the State Highwa,
Commission.

columbia, .. e., Dec. 12.-Adop
tion of plan to be submitted to tn,
incoming legislature, proposing a
referendum on a bond issue for L.
500 miles Of improved highways in
the state, proposal of measures tt
educate the people on the value
good roads and the legislators on
the beneficent results accruing from
bond issue, pledges by county re-
presentatives to circulate petitions
among the automobile owners Of
the various political subdivisions.
calling on the legislature to pass the
""t providing for the bond issue and
I've selection of committees to carry
on the work of the organization.
ere some Of the things done yes
terday at the convention of the
South Carolina Automobile associo
tion. before it adjourned to meet
again at the call of the president. !.
B. Carter. of Greenv'lle
The plan for pe-manent highway
Improvement, submitted by com
mittee headed by r. Goodwin
Rhett, OF Charleston, and adopted
by the convention. proposes amend
ments 10 the state highway law, to
be adopted by the next general as
sembly, enlarging the powers of the
state highway department and in
creasing the personnel OF the state
highway commission from FIVE men,
hers, as it is at present constituted.
TO seven members. one from each
congressional district. and in addi-
the engineering department of the
citadel. the University of South
Carolina and Clemson college, to
act in an advisory capacity.
The plan further recommends the
construction OF 1900 miles of we'll
surfaced highways connecting va
rious county seats This system OF
roads. said the report would re
Guire a very large sum. probably
100000. or even $25 O00,OO6
and without the credit of the state
behind it, this would he imrra ,tica-
Bile" For that reason the legislature
will be requested to submit such an
issue, to cover the life Of the road
or period Of approximately 20
years, to the qualified electors OF
the state in referend dunn TO be held
at the general election in 1920. This
bond issue to carry will require a
two-thirds majority OF the ballots
cast.
The plan proposes that the inter
est on the bonds. 41-2 per cent an
nually, and their retirement at ma
turity according 10 their terms
should be met by increased license
tax on the motor-propelled vehicles
OF the state. The committee esti
mates that the average license wodld
be Increased from s5o5 per car. as
at present. TO an average of 500 per
car. This is based on an aggregate
OF 10000 autom cbies, two years
from now. the present total being
5000, an increase of 10000 cars
since 1915.
Tho convention authorized the
secretary of the association. c. w.
Cofeld. of Greenvillc, to appoint n
Legislative committee OF one mem
ber for each courtv and = central
legislativ" committee of one mem
ber from each of the seven congress
sional districts, 10 confer with the
various dcle"atiors in the general
assembly o. the proposed progressive
highway laws and the contemolatcl
bond Issue. COrrelative to this. del
egates from the 16 counties repro-
sented, pledged themselves to see
each automobile owner in his county
and persuade him to sign a memo
rial to the legislature asking the
adoption OF the associations good
roads plans. r. G. Rhett. of Char
lesion. ws delegated to prepare the
form OF petition.
Secretary Cofeld was instructed TO
appoint publicity committee OF one
in each county for local dissemina
tion OF good roads propaganda. A
steering committee. consisting OF r.
A. Wilson. OF York: r. f. Cradle.