Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-18
ROADS EXPERT URGES
EFFICIENT STATUTES
Former New York Deputy Commissioner Says Politics
Should Be Removed From Highways, and That
Virginia Should Note Past Errors of Other States

lerent grades heir selection by pcr-
astrous. Might it MOI he We'll to in
ce,idc in the powers and duties Of tho
| NirEinta highway board the comduci
Highway service rs would secure ,rS,,.
%rly educated ana trai::"d assistants
IN no dcrartmcnL OF pu'j;ic work is
!he elimination Of the hing we call
make bad roads" usunllv ENGINEERS
~, ~ 'me% are any good as engineers. are
Amons the many lessons we have
l"nrnco from the great war is IL thor
i,u,ro, arnPreci9tton OF the benefits OF
Sssary 70 argue for better roads. hut
~, !, Is sun very necessary to consider
w"rs mru means or Administering tho
.he road work OF the country has heen
pIaocd III the hands OF incompetentsL.
MANN mere 9ifice-holdcrs. who knew
tI'IhR VI road construction and mai
tennncc, and could not be- exnrr,nJ ~
nave such knowledge. The majority or
und H "' ,hn IN This country has been
si, ROAD affairs arc administered bv
Sm,ait politicians. The remedy for thi;s
r"at i'c h,,ii tauit lies in placing sklllfui
WORK as well rs the highway mroi. "uu
Vi greater magnitude.
Htndrnnccs to Poor Work
Tho ofn,nunity jeaousy. partisan politics
and ,na 700 centralized authority
nlrS Tor private gain M nn,,I p. 'uni
inc tbo peen 'arSe factors IN fran
ierisintiom "S M,, or general aud special
work in most States. AZ ~. uined road
~, WIN other public work ,hn h,i IL
Anything 0 MS, mas been regarded as
withh |" Dc accomplished in u,.,.or,, I'll
principles and -,
work has .NE ma manner. While much GOOD
froi,, conditions. the results Oh, 20; a.
expenditures faSe :: proportion Of Tho
ONLY W.. Tor road work have han',
expected night have been
ne Federal aid statute ;s -,
acted 49, We plan thai has been ams
teilircn, "a" providing for an ~
Lei"cen the States and ,ho orsration
w ms the roads or the St,,t ~,
me nation. in improving thn $50, ana
,ntsr S,' ana connecting them In.
have noy nasnwaSs MI the states
-, pan, and 1t remains nov tns -,
49, 20 work. and carry out -
niiv ~ Inc war period. nov b.n'
nassed. interrupted the orG"ri,
t,,, OF construction for a tir,:
.ut We may now dcvot, our inc
nlP'oNine our roads m.da ~
than ever before, nv ~,
h- winch time, and the war ~.
virginia Is Fortunate.
HsI M" Is fortunate in ,,t,,i.i
ne prohiem of permanently in,nro,.ise
roads AT this time. when condi,; o,s
use are perhaps. as well undnrs,n.ii
anu as nearly fixed. as they hava hn",,
~ any gwen period. The deyeIn,m.,,,
weight and speed in road marhi,ns
"PreaFS 10 have reached a limit whicf
- NOT likely TO be greatly changnd -.
some years. Virginia mas No, W 10.
,esteo interest in lightly constrmc,e
improved roads, as New Yo-k ia IV , Gu
VI SIN years ago. when iruck "a; .
oeSan its destructive operafion -
!'ushed the maintenance arromr; ~
our or hvc thousand miles ~ ra,a,
up 10 $1,000 a mile per annnr, '"'s'
ROADS must be built 10 men, ~,
needs OF the people and vebi"ics Iii
developed 10 satisfy the demands
OF commerce. Just AS Increased ,r, u >
ana bridges have been made :, ron 80 ,
% carry safely increased wcipbt -
speed OF locomotives and cars - hi al"
80 engineers like railroad enginecrs
VIII be called upon 10 build s1ron ~ =.
ato net'er roads. Virginia will build
h.,l honFs in adjoining states hayc
80, because the same traffic will 90
On over All roads. Other States have
."l ,n,n improved roads an invcstmen,
..e,oIhE h!g returns; they have bujIi
anu Fenulii their thorouEhfares which
nave earned large dividends for ,hcir
peop!eS Good roads benent more MOO.
PIE taan any Other public under,akinr