The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-01-15

Investments already made by the
counties. some to connect up improved
sections Of the system. and some to
| strengthen and crystalize the road
sentiment in communities-ail OF
them made. having In mind that big
! highway program which will be
necessary IL we are to keep abreast OF
other states ana develop our wonder
ful resources. The foregoing appro-
priations are long step In the right
J direction, representing, as they do,
something over ten millions OF DOL
lars; handsome SUM, until you con-
slider the magnitude of the work
ahead OF us, then 1t seems almost in
Intestinal.
: HOW then. you ask, are we to fin
ance the construction OF the roads OF
the state2 There are several very
natural suggestions which immediate
iy come to mind.
NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
TX we are to secure intelligent plan
ming In the highway development Of
our country. 1t will be necessary for
the national government to realize It's
responsibility in this matter and un-
eertake to lay out and establish ma
tionat system Of highways; this to
include the main arteries Of travel Of
the country At large. and to carry on
and develop interstate commerce,
these roads to be constructed and
maintained entirely at the expense of
the national government / am con-
WINGED, from the general discussion
of this question which Is going on
Throughout the country at the present
time, that the realization OF this part
OF our program Is in the not very dis
tant future. However, this probable
development must not tempt US to
hold back in the consGmmation OF
our state highway system. even
though we may be reasonably sure
that certain routes in our system will
be made part of the national sys-
Ften, for just as sections of our state
system were improved through the
initiative OF the more progressive coun-
ties and form for us the nucleus of
our system. and as these improved
sections became poten factors in the
selection OF some of the routes form
ing that section, just so will the ad-
venced attitude OF the several states
become a powerful influence in the
welding together OF great national
system. think we can rest assured
that the greater the development of
cur state system, the greater will be
the mileage taken over and included
in the national system. Further, we
can richly AFFORD to construct our
highways by our own initiative and en-
tcrprise. II we can induce the national
government to take over these high
ways after their construction and
maintain them. This will relieve us
CT tremendous burden and will re-
le ase to US funds which can be utilized
70 very great advantage in the further
development Of our state and county
system. Any national plan adopted
Will include at the very lowest esti-
mate from one-ffth to one-fourth of
our present state system.
RESPONSIBILITIES
While we can feel reasonably sure
that the national system is not very
distant, we cannot afford. as stated
above. to base our program on its de-
veiopment. II Is therefore necessary
that we should work out our plans.
having the foregoing possibility in
mind AS outlined TO you In OPEN
ing, we INDUCED in the state highway
system some $3.50 miles OF main high
ways While some OF this mileage
has already been constructed. the
changes In traffic conditions have been
SO rapid in the past few years that it
will necessitate the resurfacing and
rebuilding OF the greater part OF 1t
Our plan, then. should include the
raising OF from sixty five to seventy
FIVE millions of dollars. to be utilized,
II possible, in six-year period. The
highway department as at present Or
ganized will be In a position, as soon
al this fund could be made available.
to expend from eight to ten millions
the first year. ten millions the second
year, twelve millions the third year.
and fifteen millions each succeeding
year. or a total OF the above amount
in the six-year period. or the above
amount we are receiving at the pres
ent time from the Federal govern
ment, two millions of dollars annually.
III have reason to believe that this
amount will be materially increased
during the next year. I feel confident
that when the national government
undertakes the construction OF its
highway system. 1t will continue It's
aid to the states, to be used In the
construction OF the state highway
systems.
This, however. will leave large
amount TO be raised annually by the
states. There are but two ways. as I
see it, to raise SUFFICIENT funda One
by a special tax, and the other by a
bond issue. or you could have modi-
iicstion OF either one OF these plans
and raise part OF your funds by spe-
cial tax and part by bond issue. The
| first | think we will agree Is out OF
the question. since at the presen, x4he
our one mill tax is yielding US ap-
proximately sl.306,o0o. from one
third OF the automobile tax we will
derive in the neighborhood OF $780,
| 600, or by the time we could issu Q
bonds we would receive from these
two sources approximately $4,000, 900,
which. in connection with the Federal
aid. would give us 100000 an
nually Our problem. then. resolves
! itself into the amount Of bonds to be
issued annually, and the arrange
ments which should be made for in
terest and sinking fund. wish to en-
phasixe here the importance OF al
ways having in mind the maintenance
Of our roads after their construction.
| This should be demanded OF us by the
citizens OF the state who are to pay for
the construction OF our roads, for
only in this way can we assure TO
them the benefits OF the investment
which they are to make.
RECOMMENDATION
i would therefore recommend:
First. That frst consideration