Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-11

portion OF the year from communica-
ton with the interior except by rail-
roada. The demands of preparedness
require that the State should have a
complete system of connecting high
emergency.
The division of the proposed routes
into primary and secondary ones docs
not moan that the latter are con-
sidered any less important than tn.
former but was simply done for the
purpose OF distinguishing, in a meas
ure, through routes from thoae more
or less local.
CALLS ATTENTION TO
FEDERAL ROAD ACT
Your committee further calls atten-
tion to the fact that since the adjourn
ment OF tho General Assembly in 1916
Congress enacted what is known a. the
Federal Aid Road act. under the terms
of which a large sum OF money was
appropriated for permanent road i'm
provcment In tho various states OF tho
Union. The administration OF this law
devoIved upon the Secretary of Agri-
culture and under authority vested in
the Highway Department of Virginia
TO participate in tho Federal Aid
money. would be required to formulate
and submit a definite system or plan
CT State highways. The requirements
OF the Secretary Of Agriculture will be
fulfilled by the adoption b. the present
General Assembly Of tho system now
h,y,
ginia Will thcreupon he placed In Il
government her proportion OF the
money made available under the law
in question.
Tending action by tho General As
sembly the Highway Commissioner.
acting with the approval OF the Gov
ernor and your committee. certified TO
the Secretary OF Agriculture the ten
tative plan adopted by the committee,
in order that the State might avail her
self Of her share Of the Federal AID
money for the years beginning July
/. 1916. and July l. 1917, amounting to
approx imately 100000 for the nrst
year and 100000 for the second. The
larger part OF this money has been
allotted by the Highway Commissioner
10 sections OF road embraced within
the system herein recommended. IN
asmuch as the Federal government re-
duires the State to put up dollar for
dollar. this requirement has been met.
or Will be met. SO far as the said $500
600 is concerned by local funds. and
II will! therefore not be necessary for
the General Assembly 10 make any
! appropriation TO meet the Federal fund
/ Tor the years mentioned. but the State
must provide 100000 to meet the Fed
eral Aid money for lsIS-1o and l0i0-o0.
as hereinafter pointed out.
RECOMMEND CHANGE
IN STATE CONSTITUTION
II the proposed system Is TO be ADOPT :
ed the question naturally arises as to
! where the money is to come from, TO
construct the roads embraced therein.
| lnasmuch as the system Will include a
mileage OF approximately $500 miles
IT, vii! at once he seen that very
large amount Of money will be neces-
sary for its proper construction. II
must be remembered however. that a
| considerable portion OF this mileage &
already constructed in moro or less
permanent manner. some road. being
| OF course. much better constructed than
others. and 1t must further be re.
incnlhcred that even under most favor.
able circumstances IL Will require some
years of work in order TO complete the
entire system, thus distributing the
cost over a period OF years.
Your committee has heard many sug.
Ges'ions in regard to state bond Issue
10! the purpose OF constructing th!.
system and influential newspapers lr
the State have advocated such an issue
our co'amittee is Of the opinion tina,
rEira. in order to keep abreast OF