The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1920-06-11
DO TT FOR SOUTH CAROLINA

| Editors Note-Good roads is one
of the foremost needs of South Caro-
lima. 1t is also one of its gravest pro-
blems because of the cost involved In
order that the readers of the Union
| Times may nave an understanding of
the present status of road building,
the following article has been written
| by member of the State Highway
Commission.)
By Charles o. Hearon
| No matter what problem you may
set out to consider in connection with
the development of the state of South
Carolina, you do not go very far until
you some to face with the question
of roads. We must have them.
1 Here is the situation. The motor
driven vehicle is here for operation,
and We have not tracks to operate it
over efficiently of economically. The
| present state highway law is, to put
it briefly, measure designed to hold
what we have, in the way of roads
built and to keep traffic moving. A
community in this day and time can
no more afford to have the road lead
ing into it break down, than it can af-
ford to have it's railway connection
cut, for business is moving over the
highway just as it is moving over the
railroad.
II We are moving business over the
roads, but at an awful cost. We have
II fba 6
q going concern, capable of developing
o great deal more business-we must
handle it economically and the high
ways are essential.
| The present state highway measure
is long step in the right direction.
First it establishes State highawy
system. 1t leaves road construction
to the counties, but places RESPONSE
bility for maintenance of state roads
on the State Highway Commission.
The State Highway Commission has
the automobile tax, and holds 80 per
cent to be spent in the county in which
it is collected, upon construction and
maintenance of the state highways
in that county.
There are counties in this state in
which considerable mileage of state
highways has been built. Such coun-
| ties will be visited by the state high
| way engineer, who will say whether
of not the condition of the roads under
consideration warrants assuming res
possibility for maintenance. If he de-
cides the road has been constructed,
he will tell that county the state will
assume responsibility for maintenance.
And when the state takes 3 road over
for maintenance, it should mean
systematic care of that road every
| day in the year.
Now just what method is to be fol-
lowed and what that sort of main
tenanqe is going to cost per mile, per-
year is not known. In this connecticut
South Carolina is assuming the most
difficult task POSSIBLE with road work;
but it can be done. Once the state
takes over a road for maintenance it
should mean that that road will never
have to be rebuilt, unless the volume
of traffic on it is too great for the
| character of the surface, All of us
have seen roads built in South Caro-
lima, but none maintained.
In counties that have not completed
state highways, the automobile tax
may be used for construction until the
roads are built and ready for main
tenance.
| Of course. we all know that in the
development of state system Of
roads, bridge problems of the most
costly nature confront South Caro-
lima. Realizing this the State High
way eCommission set aside, thre
years ago, 90 per cent of the $4,000
600 coming 20 the State from federal
aid as bridge fund" and out of this
it has made appointments to the
principal bridge building projects in
the state. The building of these
bridges is going to bring about the
most marked change in the economic
and social conditions of the state.
| Their construction will mark the be-
| ginning OF the real development ofl
|