The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-02-13
Rhett Plan for $25,000,0OO Bond Issue
for Building Good Reads in Sorth Carolina

In response to many requests W q publish below the Rhett plan for a bond
issue of s25oooooo for good roads in South Carolina. the interest - o n , the
retirement in twenty years % be created in the same way: This is the pan
shat sssts has an1 Ssso Sadq assaa sy the ts ses co 51nas s'1 GseenSfle s1S Rock Hill an'm and
Charleston Chambers OF Commerce and many other rgamzation over IN
session in the form OF a bill.
The plan follows in full a. endorsed by the good roads convention:
Your Committee on Plans begs to submit certain facts which should D
There is at present no State Highway System in South Carolina: The he
- ta oYs n t *o ~ - onosntad h " the Gov@nor. It is limited in its powers
and duties to investigation and advice At least fourffths Of the amount
4 collects from licenses is turned owe to the counties. Under the present
Act it is not possible to establish a system Of State Highways, and your
committees recommendations contemplate such amendments to this Act as.
. eon ni 3oat aad sep n9pl at : 1s e t9 assen ho o%H ID mans so Of v ell faced highways
connecting every county seat in the state.
OF even twenty-five million dolars-and without the credit of the State behind
IT, this would be impraeteabe Under the Constitution this ts efs s1s,a may sat aos
on the question at general State election, be in favor of it." Until November.
Isso. there win be no opportunity for submitting this question to such a vote
However there 10 much to be done in the establishment Of a System
Of State Highways before surfacng them and it will be found that a year and
. half will not be too long a time to lay out such a system and acquire title
to the roads. In the meantime however, your committee has proposed plans
which would enable such counties, a may desire to have their highways
completed within their limits, to do SC.
It is clear a the outset that twothirds Of the qualified voters voting On
BY general taxation. It must be made clear that the general public are to
esyo no part par 18TH, 81 this ,s tax: 1t 49, is a nunas 81 tm aen y w1 ano wS's sn % % p al an sad
ne should 8 Enthusiastically express himself There ar now over $4,000 auto
9ss1, rs r resnS numbers a ss ; $685. = The e1 iner "a Of aa automobiles te &fSRssi in ' the State TT
g: :. tn the y past ,;. two =, years 1s.h has been fs i from 1.5 1000 sti in 1916 sgna to ,s saooo in y 1917 1917 to
January L. 1913, 100 per cent. Iowa already has on ar to every
&0 persons
To retire sa5 900 of AZ PEI cent bonds senany in twenty years would
,eoq III s about t 100000 Goo p per ny year. aac An An a 1se q o hosnf is x Of $1,000 tee SCI ser e. q on %
ear. The present average license is $525 per car
II every owner of a a would figure his saving in gasoline, repair bills,
WAYS. kept IN good order, in the State, it would be found that this WIN
the a's State State to permit him to invest from 81 5000 to $500 per annun, say. to
save from 10000 to $4,000 a total saving tt the automobiles of the State
Of over s1ooooooo per annum' in money. 1t would be hard to compute the
saving In time.
With this prelude, your committee bess to report its recommendations.
l. The State Highway Commission should be given the power to acquire
rihtsofway and lands, by purchase o condemnation, for the purpose Of
construct and surface the highways in such a system 10 as to take care Of
the traffic which may be developed upon them, and to keep such highways in
eroper condition and repair:
q The State Highway Commission should be seven in number, and
should be composed Of one from each Congressional District, with the three
senior professors Of engineering. provided in the present Act as advisory
members It should select its own chairman, and have full power to employ
It's " engineer, and fix his compensation, and also the compensation Of
8. There should be two OF more issues Of State OF South Carolina High
. wensuraced hghway each issue to be retired griary, or by AMORTIZATION,
within the life OF the road upon which the proceeds are expended.
L There should be levied BY the Legislature a n annual license tax upon
motor vehicks-an OF which should go % the State Highway Commission
sufficient to enable the Commission to keep the highways in the System in
proper condition and repair; to pay interest o all outstanding Stat Highway
Bonds and to retire same in accordance with their terms.
s The counties OF the State should be authorized by the Legislature
. issue County Highway Bonds and construct such parts OF this highway
system within their borders as their people may ratiy.
s There should be levied for the next two years a onemrl tax to Be
IN the event any county should desire to turn this fund over % the State
Highway Commission for expenditure N a highway in the State System.
within the limits of it's county, the Commission should be required to add q
Hike amount from its license fees for the same purpose.
Z The prssen. motor vehicle license tax should be at ns raised to
power for motor trucks, with $500 for tralers and $500 for dealers, unless
there is a opportunity Of securing Federal aid, in which event this should be
must furnish in order to obtain the full portion to which it would be entitled.
sion o be- bs expended aDenas "a on : a : State taaD Sig @xy u.s. should und be W refunded ref such c@mg
out Of the proceeds OF any State Highway Bonds, which may be issued, with
out interest
3. Wherever any highway which is low improved, or may hereafter DO
improved, shall be taken into the State Highway System, so much Of the W.
appraised, and the value thereof paid to the county out of the proceeds Of
any State Highway Bonds that may be issued.
Your committee believes that under such a plan a System OF State High.
ways can be begun and be prepared To- construction by the INT "a state