The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-31

staIe 9nOuiO dttempi III OTuei " tS"iiy
begin a systematic effort at highway
construction, hoping, however, that II
the Federal government did make ad-
dittonal appropriations Virginia might
be- prepared to meet them
t. Another resolution was adopted at
the convention, which reads as fol-
lows:
Resolved, further. that we also
f. or the continuance OF the present
Federal aid appropriations ana en-
dorse the amendments offered IN
creasjnr sush appropriations under
the present Federal Aid Act.
The highway commissioner VIII
have been able to meet approximately
81. 900 .000. 90 Of federal aid with state
funds provided he can borrow enough
to use the entire s375.00o.0o above
referred TO.
He has also. by the most persis-
tent and earnest personal effort. been
able to secure private subscriptions
and county funds of approximately
$250,O00.0O to be used to meet federal
aid.
Using every possible present source
of revenue. state, county and private
funds. there will still remain $4,l5o.-
10000 Of the federal aid fund to be
provided for.
1t must be borne in mind that the
next regular session of the general
assembly does not meet until January
14th, 1920, and the automobile tax for
/ that year is due and payable on
January LIST of that year 1t Is
highly improbable. therefore. that an
increase in the auto tax can be made
effective before 1921 unless by an
extra session.
In addition to the actual amount
necessary to meet federal aid there
must he provided a sum sufficient TO
pay for preliminary surveys and en-
cheering work. purchase OF ma
chinerv. payment Of damages to abut-
lting property owners. resurfacing and
similar work on the state highway
system other than actual construc-
ton in none of which items will the
government allow its funds to partici-
Pate. The lowest estimate OF the
highway commissioner for these
several items is $3.50 10000.
The account, therefore. stands about
as follows:
Federal aid which must DE met by
/ the state prior to July, 1922
Additional funds. necessary for in
cidentals other than construction
which must be made available in order
to use government money, $50 10000
Total to be provided for S6,20s,.
! 10000
Possible funds available for work
! in 1919 if $375.000.00 can be Dor
rowed, 1.S1o.s23.oo.
Amount to be provided for by next
regular session if no extra session is
held. $4.s97,337.00.
| The paramount question. therefore
is, can any one session of the legisla
| tDre provide SO Large a. SURF for bet
ter roads and at The same time NEE
the proper and legitimate demands
of all other state institutions. and II
not, which will suffer -
! We have not included in this state
ment any estimate of the possible
.vafue Of convict la Dor as an offset IL
federal money for two reasons.
First, because we understand 1t &c
be the declared policy of che high.
way commissioner to use this labor
exclusively on maintenance WORK
where it is badly needed and can be
most economically employed and
| Second, because the only way such
labor can be used to meet federal aid
! is to farm it out to road contrac
tors where it comes in competition
with free labor and We do not thini
this desirable.
| In the present condition Of our vir
ginia roads 1t is unthinkabie that an,
part of the badly needed federal ait
road fund should be lost to the state
What, then, are the advantages to b,
gained by a special session?
! First. We set the work of high
way Improvement forward at least {
year, because the moment the legis
lature authorizes an increase in reve
nue. the highway missioner car
| begin planAL feE-s.h4fissien to thu
federal government for the use o.
specific funds for certain project.
which when approved by the fedora
authorities has the effect Of settins
aside the federal funds so designated
the actual expenditure to he mad.
later. provided the state money is col
tiected and in hand during the If.
OF the federal appropriation.
without a special session this actio,
can not be undertaken by the high.
way commissioner until after the nex
| regular session shall have acted. ant
not knowing what that body will de
the highway commissioner will b,
unable to make any definite rlan,
other than those now in hand before
! next year and will be compelled Il
release number of engineers ant
other skilled employees who will b.
needed later
| Second We enable the highway de
partment to perfect an ORGANIZATION
which will be able to perform tn.
work outlined in the most efflcisn
and economical manner.
! Third. We afford the highway de-
partment an opportunity to let con
| tracts at the proper season OF tn.
year and to undertake CONSTRUCTION
projects OF considerable magnitude or
the most important roads of the stat.
highway system instead of .he piec.
| meal. patch work policy he is nov
compelled to adopt. and which ts de-
strucfive Of any systematic plan q,
hiThway imrrovement
| Fourth. We devide the burden q,
providing the necessary federal aio
money between the present legislator,
ana the one to meet in regular session
IN 1920. making IL possible for IN.
regular session TO make more hhera
provision for other state institution,
tnan would otherwise be possible
Fifth. We make sure OF utirizin,
the entire federal aid within the time
REQUIRED by law and run no rial n,
losing any part thereof