Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-07-01
FACTS CONCERNING STATE HIGHWAYS
AMENDMENT PRESENTED IN PRIMER FORM

as 10 the feasibility OF the proposed
amendment TO the state constitution,
which provides for system OF state
highways connecting all county seats,
please read the foilovingt
o.-Why 10 II necessary to amend the
state constitution before q state high.
way system can be built7
A.-The constitution does not pro-
vide for state supervision and main
tenance Of highways
o.-Who has this power7
Alt IL vested in the county courts,
sometimes assisted by advisory COM
mittecs.
o.-Why change this system7
A.-Thero will be no change in so
far as secondary or class "B" roads are
concerned. The state must have
charge OF through roads" or trunk
lines, II a comprehensive highway sys-
TEN Is built to connect all county
seats.
Q.-ls this necessary
A-Yes. History has proved that
in great number of cases, county
courts Of adjoining counties frequent
ly fail to cooperate with eaCh other.
Roads are sometimes built to serve the
people OF the county and not the state
at large. The proposed amendment
gives the legislature authority to re-
wise the state road law. Then the
state will see that all main thorough.
fares are built to connect. thus making
up complete state road system. The
amendment must be ratified before
this road building plan is adopted.
Q.-How many miles of hard road
has West Virginia7
A.-ApproXimately 900
o.-WII any more be built this
year.
A.-Thc state road commission saws
there is enough money available to
build 300 miles this year
Q.-How many miles of hard road
are needed to connect all county seats?
A.-2,2o0. With 800 miles built. and
money available To build 800 more this
year, there are still 1,O0O miles of hard
road unprovided for, il the state con
meets county seats
Q.-What Is the cost Of this 1000
miles?
A.-The cost would vary in accord
ance with the type of roads built.
Q.-How does the state intend to
raise the funds necessary to complete
this system2
A.-Thc proposed constitutional
amendment provides that the lcgiSla-
ture may issue state bonds not To ex-
! coed $5o,00O,OO0 and tn be retired in
thirty years.
Q.-How would a sinking fund be
created to retire these bonds?
Although what is known rs the
illinois Plan" or increased automobile
license revenue. This means Increased
automobile registration as the result
va 'N''iiilliS lpdu system.
o.-is this necessary
A.-At the time this amendment was
submitted 10 the legislature for an
/ proral before going tn the voters. il
was thought to be the most logical
method. However, increased automn-
bile registration since that time, des-
pite the lack of hard roads, has led
fn hnl
would not he necessary.
Q.-What will the automobile
revenue amount to this year?
A.-The State Road Commission has
estimated that 1t will reach 81. 200 600
this year
Q.-What is tho total number of cars
: registered so far this year7
A-At the time this * being written
/ 1t is approximately 59UOO. 1t is be.
! heved the registration will reach g.
! 600 before January /. 1921.
Q.-What percentage Of increase
viii this show for the year?
! Approximately ~ per cent.
. OF the legislature decides to is.
sue bonds amounting to 5000 900,
how will they be issued?
A-No one can say now, hut the
West Virginia Good Roads Federation.
tn" organization sponsoring this con.
stitutional amendment. favurs what is
known a the "Fivc-lcar Plan This
means bonds amounting To $4,000 600
! Will he issued each wear for n prrind
Of five years
o.-Have the taxpayers any reason
to believe that this "Five-Year Plan"
viii be adopted by the legislature. if il
- decided to issue bonds?
Al i"N certainly have. Is il NOT
reasonable To assume that an organi.