The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-20
GOOD ROADS ASSOCIATION ADOPTS PLAN
TO DEVELOP HIGHWAYS SYSTEMATICALLY

In the beginning of this report; name
ly. we believe that the people OF the
state OF Virginia have como TO a de-
termination In regard to statewide TIN
proyement OF public Highways, and II
! only Temains, therefore, TO suggest
I the most feasible means OF raising
the necessary amount OF money TO
comply with that determination.
| General Assembly should Act.
Your committee at this time
wishes TO express the belief that the
( Virginia Good Roads association does
: not desire 20 interfere In any way
with any OF the established activities
Of the staSe government. We bnlevs
the good roads proposition has sum
I cient merit OF Itself TO be given prop
e. consideration by the general as
@emhiy, ard that whatever moneys
may he needed for auch proposition
should In no way reduce the amount
heretofore appropriated. or which
may he. eater be needed for any other
OF the numerous meritorious activi-,
ties of the state. We recommend,
therefore. first. that pending the pro-
posed effort TO change the coustttu-
zion permitting a bond issue for road
purposes. which constitutional change
we cordially endorse. may In the
Judgment OF your committee take some
time 20 perfect that a direct annual
-vy T1e made upon all properties ia
tie state now available for taxation
@ pot less than 10 cents ON The hum
Csed dollars. the money arising OF
suca levy to be usea entirely on the
proposed class a roads.
We re0Smmend, second. that In
addition to The proposed special levy,
that the present appropriation ror
state at1 he continued with such In
crease As IN TIE tnarraeat of the gem
efHl assembly may 10 proper This
fund 10 be used for the construction
OF class n roads under conditions
sot forth ny recommendations OF the
state Highway commissioner under the
supervision Of the county authorities.
Your committee further recon-
Il ends that the license tax on auto
motive web Giles be increased from 40
cents per rated horse power TO so
cents per rated horse power, this
auto N olive vehicle tax TO be used
as Tar as necessary for the nainten-
arce OF class "A roads. Amy part OF
this fund not needed for the upkeep
Of class A roads TO be used in the
maintenance OF such class n roads
as may be designated by the state
highway commissioner upon the same
ratio and basis az now provided by
law.
wheel Tax on All Vehicles
We renew the recommendations
adopted at the Norfolk convention
providing for a wheel tax on all We
hieles using the public highways the
proceeds of such tax to be get aside
for road construction and mtainter-
ance, and ia addition desire 10 rec
ommend that such wheel tax be levied
IN inverse proportions to the width of
the tires.
We also desire TO renew our for
mer recommendations requiring tho
use of wider tires on ali vehicles as
scon as practicable.
Your committee In carrying out
the idea embodied In the federal aid
act prohibiting the use OF federal
funds on toll roads. and acting in ac-
cordance with what we believe to be
enlightened public sentiment in Viz
sinia. II Is recommended that here
after no stats aid OF any character
! shall be given to any roads upon
which tolls are collected.
IF we are to have a comprshen-
( sive state road system II IL essential
that We have an equally conprehen-
sve state road law If we condemn