The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1920-09-29
Good Roads

Numerous questions are be.
INK asked regarding the mean.
INK and purpose of the proposed
Constitutional Amendment for
Good Roads.
The adoption of the Constitn-
tiOnal Amendment for Good
Roads does not issue one pen.
py's worth of bonds. 1t merely
gives tho General Assembly
and the Governor the authority
to Issue bonds in such amounts
aud ut such times as in their
Judgment ia to the best interest
Of the state. This is only Civ.
ing the state the same authori.
~ which q county, city o. town,
a corporation, partnership or
Individual now possess, of us.
ing their credit for construction
purposes.
1t is advisable to state at the
outset that approximately one
fourth only of the revenue from
the automobile license fees is
available for new construction
The remainder of the fund is
being very properly set apart
for the maintenance of the
roads when they are built. The
government will not put up a
dollar for every dollar OF the
states money in Federal aid,
but rather tells Virginia, along
with the other states, how
much Federal aid the state may
expect, and requires the state
to match their funds dollar for
dollar. The present net revcn.
ues for new construction, in.
Guiding the Federal aid, is ap.
proximately $5 500, 900. This
does not include the separate
fund for state aid to county
roads.
AS every section of the state
is equally anxious and equally
entitled to have construction
started along the worst sections
OF their mileage of state high.
ways, the State Highway Com.
mission must pick out sections
on the various main highways
and proceed with their con
struction. With the limited
funds available, this means that
tho mileage in such section is
ANAL. If the state had the
funds, the highway commission
could Just us easily award the
contract for three or four times
the mileage on each section of
the state highway. Much of
thu same overhead on Il two
mile link would take care of a
ten mile section. The larger
contract would attract more
bidders who with largo road
building equipment could afford
to bid lower per mile. BY the
time any bonds could be issued,
the state highway department
would have completed the plans
and specifications of the entire
state highway system so that
fhese contracts could be award.
ed as fast as contractors, men
and materials could be secured
to do the work.
Under the present plan of
paying as you 60" Commits
sloner Coleman states that il
would require not less than six
teen years to complete the state
highway system, whereas, if
the necessary funds were pro-
vlded to enable his department
TO build the highways as rap
IDLY as it is possible to do SO,
the same system of roads could
be constructed in six years.
The issuance of bonds would,
OF course, require of the Leg
islature that they make pro-
Visions at the same time to pay
the interest on any bonds is
sued and also provide for their
retirement. In the first place,
under the plan of financing
state bond issues followed by
The states of New York, Pen
nyslvania, Michigan, Illinois,
California and other states
which have adopted this plan,
The bonds would be serial bonds,
Issued only as money is needed,
and retired as rapidly as the
fund provided for the purpose
Qccnspulotao