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

- ] deem IL great priviloSc to hG
given an opportunity TO brine TO the
attention OF your association the
changes which ara needed In the pres
tcDt road laws and TO offer fer youI
consideration new laws, which we know
are necessary for the work which
we have in hand as We'll as for the
development and welfare Of the various
interests which all Of US represent.
The time has arrived in nay 1udg-
mcnt. when this state should make
determined forward movement in road
ma tiers. when our work should he co.
ordinated along definite We'll defined
Lines; when we should work with one
accord and with united effort for
State highway system. system VOL
planned and carefully thought out.
Having this in mind, VIC recommended
to the last General ASSEMBLE the APP
,nointment of legislative road COM
mittcc TO formulate such Il system ana
to present the Saue with their rec
lamentations IL the present General
Assembly. This committee hH" mad"
its repor, and senator Goodrich,
chairman Of the committee. who is
on your program, Will outline To you
Tomorrow tho general scope OF MS
committees report. | know OF no
more important work than that under
taken by your committee, and be-
speak your full and hearty indorsc-
-,ment OF the system which thcY have
recon- N udod and hope that you VIII
work for it's adoption by The present
General Assembly.
MUST ADOPT SYSTEM
FOR ENTIRE STATE
To conform to the requirements OF
the Federal aid road act, and to par
ticipatc in the appropriation made un-
der this ACT, must adopt State
highway system following the gen
gral plan as suggested by this com
4nittce. We therefore recommend:
First. That the system proposed
by the committee be adopted and that
this State highway system he con-
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
may be available from time to time
and such other funds as may hc placed
at our disposal by the state or 10y the
counties for this purpose.
There will be available on July l
of this year on the part Of tho Federal
government far this purpose approXi-
lnately $500, 900, which. added 10 d like
amount from the State, would give us
joint fund of 5000, GEO for this years
work: approximately 100000 Will hc
available from the government for
next year, which would give us u joint
fund OF 100000. This. YOU will see.
viii give US "A small start in the right
direction.
Second. We recommend that TO com
ply with the requirements of the Fed
cral aid road act. that the State high
way system as constructed and rs com
pleted he maintained entirely by the
State. This act makes IL obligatory
on the part q. the State to maintain
it's road and that, therefore. for this
purpose SO much Of the automobile Il
cense tax as may he required sinai! hc
set aside each year. this amount to NC
determined from estimates made by the
highway commissioner. wish TO en-
phasizc the fact that tho Federal act
requires that tho State Shall maintain
4 road. after il has been constructed,
up to certain standards set by the GOV
crnment. and that You may understand
fully these requirements. | ann going
Ito read YOU the maintenance clause o.
that act:
STATE MUST MAINTAIN
UoADS ONCE BUILT
ITO maintain the roads constructed
under the provisions of this act shall hc
the duty % the States. or thor civil
subdivisions. according to the laws OF
the several States. II at any time the
Secretary OF Agriculture shall find thnt
any road in any state constructed
under the provisions OF this act is not
being properly maintained, he shall
give notice OF such fact - The hiHn-
way department OF such state, and IL
Within four months from The receipt
OF said notice said fAad A;t. not hecu
put in a proper C5nGtiou or inainto-
nance, then the Secretary o. AErjcul-
lure shall! thereafter re!usr to approve
any project for road construction in
said state, a. the Civ!l subdivision
= thereof. as the tact may he. who's"
duty /, is 10 maintain said road, until
5 il has been put in condition OF proper
maintenance"
TAKE OVER CARE
OF PRESENT HIGHWAYS
We also recommend that the state
take over at once for maintenance any
section or sections Of The proposed
State highway system which have al
5 ready been constructed and watch are
in the judgment OF the highway COM
miss onor. in mailiia!nablc condition. or
any sections "hich may hereafter I've
constructed by the counties according
to the plans and specifications of the
State. This viii relieve the counties
of ALL maintenance cost on the sections
adopted. and viii give the counties
these funds 10 nc used on other work
Third. We recommend ,hat the coun-
ties OF the state shall lay out county
highway systems. 10 Include only tho
main Travelled roads % :hc COUNT these
TO be constructed by the counties, to-
Eether with such stat. money aid and
convict labor as may be aY.. liable from
year TO year; that these county sys-
TENS shall be approved by tho state
highway commissioner before stat. aid
! can be used IN their construction, th,S
Instruction to be carried on entirely
lby the local road authorities o. the
counties. End these roads 10 be main
4 tanned by the counties 10 meet the
: approval Of the highway commlSS oner
from county fund and SUCH assi.taur.
as may be given the counties sy the
State from the automobile maintenance
Z funds. The state would In this way
|. be requiring %! the counties Very much
1.-THE same plan for maintenance as re-
Tquired Of the state under The Federal
aid road act
MINOR ROADS TO he
= IMPROVED BI COT MITES
Fourth We recommend shat the
minor roads Of the counties shall toe
cons truc,ed and maintained entirely by
s.fhe county and magistcriai districts
TO recapituiaic, this would di.ide
4your roads into three separate and dis
5stinct groups:
First. The State highway system,
uynade UP of tho main arteries Of travel