The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-08-12
DISCUSS HIGHWAYS
WITH GOVERNOR
State Commission Submits Bill for
Approval-PrOvides for
Upkeep.

i Columbia, S. c., Aug. 7.-Steps
! looking to the enactment of measures
which will provide South Carolina
state highways were taken yesterday
when the state highway commission
held a brief session with Governor
Cooper, at which time a bill, which
will be introduced at the next meet
ing of the general assembly was dis
cussed in detail.
The bill provides maintenance for
the state highways, and also offers
encouragement to the several coun-
ties to bring their county roads up to
such condition that they will be
taken over by the state highway COM
mission and perpetually maintained
by the commission.
C. o. Hearon, member OF the
commission. in speaking of the bin
yesterday said, I'm my opinion, main
tenance is about the largest factor in
state system of highways. The main
feature of the bill which We discussed
I
ance. 1t is folly to provide a county
with an expensive piece of roadway
and then have 1t disintegrate through
lack of proper care. The heart of this
bill is maintenance"
Continuing, Mr.. Hearon said. THE
tax on automobiles nSouth Carolina
brings in approximately $35O.0O0 ev-
cry year. Eighty per cent of this
money goes back to the counties from
whence it came. Twenty per cent is
expended in meeting the expenses Of
the highway commission, the making
of surveys, salaries, office rent and
so on.
Now this bill provides that the tax
on automobiles be increased from 25
cents to 80 cents per horse power,
while trucks will be taxed according
to their weight. All the money de,
rived from this tax is to go to the
state highway commission. The bill
provides that 25 per cent of this fund
is to be expended in the work of the
commission; the balance. 75 per cent.
is to be turned back to the counties
turned back now.
Heres what we want done Say
the commission visits the county OF
Greenville, and finds therein roads
which may be included in a state sys-
tenn, If those roads are up g a cer-
tain standard. constructed in a cef-
tain way. they will be taken over by
the state highway commission And
they will be maintained by the COM
mission-and the folk in the county
can cease to worry about them. We
would not take over all improved
roads. but only the few miles which
would be part Of the state system
of roads The expense would be
borne by the automobile tax"
! 'Noow we know" continued Mr..
Hearon, that many counties have no
roads that could be called state high
ways. We provide, in this bill that in
such cases roads be built by the coun-
ty with the assistance of federal aid t:
after these roads are built. the en-
! gineers will visit them. and they may
be included in the state system and
taken over by the state highway COM
mission and kept in good order with
out any assistance from the county
other than that derived from its auto
mobile tax.
"All the construction of roads
would rest on the counties. Their
adoption by the commission as parts
OF state system OF highways would
rest with the commission.
The commission has also under
consideration property tax for high
way construction. Wewant to know
actually and truly, whether South
Carolina is in earnest in this good
roads movement. a proposed prop
erty tax will sound sentiment pretty
accurately"
The commission was in session
large part of the day. and the features
OF the bill were given careful con-
sideration. Copies OF the proposed
measure will be mailed out to the
members OF the general assembly
within the next few days so that they
may have an opportunity to study IL
at their leisure.
Several projects were passed upon.
Spartanburg county asked that $50.