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

oral rule these are to DO constructed
for medium traffic. but with an eyo to
further Improvement should the trafIlo
increase to such an extent as to re-
quirc heavier class OF construction
Third. The county and district sys-
tcm TO be composed of tho minor
county roads, and to BIO welr graded
and drained to serve for short hauls
and light traffic.
WOULD AMEND
STATE CONSTITUTION
Fifth. We recommend that al I'M
der our present Constitution II Is I'm
possible TO Issue State bonds for road
Improvement. that steps be taken i'm
mcdiately to amend tho Constitution
Tor this purpose. This IL, in my judy
incnt. the most important question con-
fronting us to-day, and we must wake
up to the fact that Virginia. to keep
abreast OF present day progress. must
have highway transportation. We
must have proper highway system
for the development and expansion Of
our wonderful resources. or else close
our doors to progress and advance
rnent.
Pending this change in the Constitu-
tion. the State should impose spe-
cial tax for road construction purposes,
which Yhould be used IN the construc-
ton OF the main State highway sys-
u
issue bonds; that is. tho amount de-
rived from this source should be used,
after the Constitution has been amend.
ed. and after bonds have been issued,
TO pay the interest on the bonds Issued
and as sinking fund to retire them.
1t has been suggested that the auto
mobile fund could be used in this way,
possibly very good idea II some other
provision was made for road main.
tenancc. which. In my Judgment. is
OF greater Importance than road con-
struction. Tho 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 levy sue-
Eested above. adopted by the State.
In every change made or plan adopted,
maintenance should always be in mind;
In other words. your plans for con-
struction should not outstrip your ar
rnnEemcnts for maintenance.
CONVICT ROAD LAW
TO DE EXTENDED
Sixth. We recommend tho extension
OF tho present convict road force to
takc in oil OF the nblebodied prisoners
now employed in the penitentiary on
contract work (thc present contract
ends in October OF this year,. these
men to be used. as far as possible. to
establish permanent quarries. gravel
pits or paving brick plants for the
preparation OF materials for construc-
ton and maintenance purposes. par
;iculariy for tho preparation OF ma
tcr!als for maintenance. During the
past twelve months IT has been ex-
ccedinsly difficult to obtain the nee
cssnry materials OF this character on
account OF inadequate transportation
facilities and limited supply. This last
was caused principally by tho govern
rlcnt's use OF ell road building ma
'.r in No ~ hA 81
oUs cantonments. We have no promise
that these conditions will improve
during the coming year, but we know
positively that materials must be OBJ
'incd for maintenance. or else the
State and the counties will suffer
heavy loss. There is no doubt in my
mind after twelve years experience
in using convicts on road work. that
plans along these lines can be worked
on! to the very great advantage OF
tho prisoners and the State as a whole.
Seventh. We recommend that the
Highway Department be allowed
greater discretion in fixing sala -ies Of
tho CT Employees OF the department. This
has teen a source o. very great loss TO
The state. particularly,in the past three
OF four years. Nc have really been
running n tra'nire school IN highway
work .or other States whose highway
DEPARTMENTS arc in position to pay
arc In Virginia.
REQUIRES SERVICES
OF TRAINED ENGINEERS
maintain. in spite Of statements to
the contrary. that road building re-
1nires the services Of we'll trained en-
gineors-nren who are thoroughly con
vcrs2rt 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
man even with the best intentions
Eighth we recommend that the gem
cral road laws OF the State be revised
and that all OF the counties of the
state bc required to work Under the
State law. The r,uIticiplicity Of laws
at the present time are Certainly most
conflicting. There are eighty odd coun-
lies working under special laws, and
any county board IL allowed TO adopt
any part or the whole OF any other
county's special law which is confusion
worse confounded. At the present time
IN several OF the counties it IS i'm
possible TO say just which body OF Of
fccrs constitute the local road authuri-