Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1920-03-05
Mr.. Byrd Opncsrd
Road Bond Issue

OJ u Optt' ~ "
Road Bond Issue.
Senator II. f. Byrd, of the
Winchester district, has given
ont the following statement of
his position relative to propos-
ed bond issue of approxima tely
$50. 600 900 for road construction
il Virginia.
A movement has been inaugu-
rated in Virginia bv certain MEM
bcls of the Virginia Good Roads
Association in advocacy of a
state bond issue of approximately
$4,000, 600. It is a part of this
program that in the event this
bond issue is passed, the entire
proceeds will be expended on
roads embraced i'll the State
Highway system.
The state Of Virginia now has
available for road construction
approximately $500, 600. S.
000,O0 of this is available from
state taxes, and s.. 50Q.000 from
the fedora government. OF this
amount, 100000 is distributed
10 the counties for the ConStruC-
ton and maintenance of state
aid roads, 81 100000 is expended
for the maintenance of the state
highway system. aud the balance
* available for the construction
of roads embraced in the stale
highway system.
There is no man III Virginia
more deeply interested in road
Improvement than | am, vet I
believe that it is most unwiSp
for the state of Vire mia to issue
bonds for road construction at
this time. The present amount
available is as much as can be
efficiently expended BY the State
Highway Department under ex-
listing conditions. Due to the
high cost Of material and labor.
il would certainly be most I'm
wise to attempt to construct
roads on any wholesale scale at
this time. SIS. 5000 is a very
large sum Of money, aud before
the State Highway Department
in Virginia is entrusted with any
larger sums it should first bt.
demonstrated that this depart
meut has the tapa City and ability
to economical txpend the larpr
amounts that are now available
Agais'. | am strongly opposed
to any bond issue to be used ex-
cIuSively tor the cOnStruC ton of
roads in the state highway Sv~-
tenn In the state of Virginia !,
is estimated that there are ap
proximately $1,000 miles of pub
lie roa DIS III the state highway
system there are 5000 miles
a bout oneh alf O. which las bee,
already constructed. The state
HIGHWAY system, therefore, con-
stitutes only about 8 per cent of
the roads of the state. While il.
OF course, embraces the main
arteries of travel. vet for this
system to be of full value to the
people of Virginia. tie roads con-
Meeting with the state highway
system should likewise be cor
structed. as it is Of little value 10
the farmer to have TO travel ov.1
mud roads and then reach tn,
state highway system {; the
a mount of his load is determined
by the worst mud hole or hill it
is necessary to pass. The I'M
of all roads i'll Vir-
ginia to a general average is the
only sensible scheme of road i'm
proyement.
am opposed to even the sub
mission of bond issue for road,
10 tile people Of Virginia at thi,
lime, but if it is submitted l wi
eudeavor to have an amendment
Incorporated in the resolution
providing that, at least one.ha1f
Of the bond issue shall be dis
tributed to the counties for the |
, instruction of county roads.
The total bonded debt Of Vir-
4 u il now 900. 900. and to
pose il,as .ffshie this - soah