The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-09

b. roads will cost from $1,000 to
$4,000 mile. and 1t IL estimated that
these will take about &ls.50o, zoe OF
the remainder of the fund, Class
g roads. costing from $4,000 to S.
600 q mile, will use up the balance OF
the fund. about $6.s0o.0oo.
The coEAmittee'Ss< report on ways
and means Is based on the assumption
that approximately $4,000, 900 will
ment. The states s3o.000.000 would
be raised by appropriations from
revenues until July !, 1922. after
which time. the report says. provision
for roads should he made through Is
suance OF bonds. the committee antici-
pattng that in the meantime the con-
stitutional inhibition against bond
issues for such purposes will be re.
moved by amendment Of the constftu.
ton. To provide 100000 in each
OF the three years ending June 80.
1879. the committee estimates that
general appropriations for road pur-
poses should be supplemented by pro-
ceeds from new special taxes namely.
an Increase Of the 3-1s OF a -1iii road
tax to ] 1-2 mills and so per cent
increase OF the automobile license tax
OF special interest to Richmond are
three of the Glass "A" roads proposed
by the highway commissioner and
designated on The map. One passes
from the northern boundary Of the
state through Richmond to Petersburg
another extends from Richmond to
Old Point. and a third, more than
100 miles in length. opens UP the
direct route the Northern Neck. which
has no railroad facilities and which
is rich virgin trade territory.
The two reports follow:
Location Of New Roads
Richmond Va. June &c. 1919
The Honorable Westmoreland Davis,
Governor.
Sir.-The undersigned. constituting
the governors advisory committee on
road construction. have. since their
preliminary report 70 you of April II.
1919, had two meetings as we'll as sew
eral meetings Of the subcommittee on
road construction. and after careful
thought and study and conferences
with the state highway commissioner,
beg TO submit herewith further report
relative. in particular, TO the question
of road construction
We submit herewith letter OF the
29th ultitno and proposed tentative
construction report to us from the
state highway commissioner This re-
port Is accompanied by two maps Of
the state, marked Exhibit a and Ex-
hfbit r. showing roads under mainten-
ance and under contract at the pres
ent time. and indicating types of roads.
respectively We give this report our
approval in principle.
The tentative construction report OF
the state highway commissioner In
dicates. as shown on map r. COM
paratively large mileage of Glass A
roads in Underwater Virginia The rea-
sons given appear to be satisfactory,
but this matter IS subject to further
study and Investigation. as he suggests
We recommend that wherever prac-
ticahle the actual construction Of new
roads OF type A, or c be let to re-
sponsible contractors. under the super
vision of the highway commissioner.
and that the labor forces now en-
ployed under the state highway COM
missioner he used more specifically
| for maintenance and resurfacing of
roads already built
We recommend that the state high
way commissioner he authorized. sub
ject TO your approval and to the ap-
prevail of the highway commission to
expand or contract the forces OF his
department 10 suit the needs OF the
work, and 70 employ such assistants
as may be required at salaries that
win enable him 70 keep good men
We further recommend that legisla-
ton now on the statute books which
prevents the foregoing recomm enda-
tion from being carried out be re-
lpealed.
| We recommend that when any given
stretch of important road be started
the construction of such road be car
ried on continuously until it is com :
| pleted between main terminal points
We do this II
specific ecommendations as to which
roads shall be built first. but will be
pleased to do SO after further study.
! If desired, We are of the opinion.
however, that construction of perm
anent roads should he undertaken in
various parts of the state at the same
| time, and that il is highly important
that the construction Of the main
highways. as outlined by the last ses-
sion of the legislature he carried
through to completion in the short
est time practicable. so that The citi-
zens of the various sections of the
STATE may be assured that the good
highways in which they are particu
/ larly interested will be promptly com
/ pleted. We, therefore, reiterate the
recommendations contained in our
preliminary report Of April II that six
years he adopted for the program un-
| der consideration
| We assume that as a part Of the leg
islative action necessary to construct
this highway system. there will be in
cluded provisions for the vital and nee
essary maintenance and upkeep of the
roads after being built. 1t is proba BILE
| that the vehicle tax will form the
principal source OF funds for such
maintenance.
| We recommend that the cost OF con-
struction OF new roads be made to in
clude all overhead costs engineering.
supervision. etc, Attention Is invited
to the fact that such overhead costs
will necessarily vary in their proper
| ton to the cost Of construction. de-
pending upon the amount OF construc-
ton which is in hand at any given
| time.
! We are also strongly Of the opinion
that In carrying out to completion a
road program involving more than six =
| ty millions OF dollars. the pay OF the
highway commissioner. responsible for
this expenditure. and OF his principal
assistants. should be In keeping with
the importance and the value Of the
work.
We are of the opinion that IL the
national government shall undertake
to build national highways, as pro-