Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1919-07-25

meut upon two conditions: Cd
That road funds are disbursed
with efficiency and economy. and
~ that funds are equitably dis
tributed, both as to localities and
as to different classes of roads.
The General Assembly of 1913 |
established three classes of roads: |
CD The state highway sys-
tenn, comprising 5000 miles OF
main road to be constructed and
maintained exclusively by the
state and federal governments.
% The main county roads,
constructed and maintained joint
ly by the state and counties.
(3) The dis trict roads, con-
structed and maintained by the
district and county.
The state highway system EN-
braces the main arteries Of travel
within the seate, connecting with
main roads of adjoining states,
and these are the only roads, UNI
der the federal law, upon which
federal funds can be expended.
j lie construction and mainte-
nance of the state highway sys-
tenn is important, yet it should
not be overlooked that the road
mileage of this system constitutes
only a small part Of the total
road mileage of the state. and
furthermore many taxpayers who
must pay the direct road tax do
not have access to the state roads;
therefore, as matter of equity
as we'll as of good policy, the
general assembly should provide
for the county and district ROADS
in d manner corresponding to
provision for roads in the state
highway system. Just as a chain
is as strong as its weakest link,
so is a road to a market limited
III value to the farmer hauling
product by the steepest hill aud
the worst mud hole he has to
pass.
Road improvement to the gen
eral average in accordance with
traffic conditions is not only a
just basis, but is the wlsest pol
icy for the distribution of road
funds, as public sentiment will
not favor any law which does
not equitably distribute the funds
derived from the taxation Of all
the taxpayers.
have constantly advocated,
where traffic conditions permit
ted, the construction Of cheaper
types Of roa DIS, so that the road
fund can be more widely dis
tributed. AT the session of 1916,
| offered an amendment to the
state road law, which was adopt
ed, recognizing loose stone roads
and graded and drained roads as
standard road types on which
state funds could be expended.
A great responsibility rests
upon the members of the General
A Ssembly meeting in August, as
laws must be enacted to inaugu-
rate great road building policy
III Virginia which, if properly
administered, will be a wonder
ful factor in our material adj
vancement and in the endowment
Of lite.
Briefly. | outline the following
changes IN existing laws which
appear to me TO be advisable:
Tae state highway commits
sioner, in whom must necessarily
be vested great authority, should
be brought closer to the people |
so that he will be directly re-
sponsib]e for his acts to each in
dividual voter. This can only |
be done by the election of the
state highway commissioner by
the people, which I heartily !
favor. He is now appointed for
six years by the governor, and as, |
under the constitution of Vir-
ginia, the governor cannot be re-
elected, only every other gover-
nor has an opportunity to ap-
point state highway commits
sioner, and the people have little
voice in his selection.
Associated with the state high.
way commissioner, so as to divide
the vast responsibility of his
office, should be created a state
highway commission of FIVE
each member represent ;
ng one of the FIVE subdivisions
If the state and all being held
responsible to the people ,
or the nraner nerfor11anca af I