Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-15

proximately 100000 for tho two-year
"on the county systems we have for
construction or maintenance 100000
appropriated by the extra SESSION and
ti M to,a, OF ola appIopriat.ons. max
which we understand is to be further
supplementcd by the present General
n .,ss;,.,hy' which amounts will also be
available In 1921.
Construction During 1910.
! strncie rihs the past year we have con-
tenn approximately l25 miles Of road
! a part OF which was paid for entirely
~ the War and Navy Departments
time thirty-three contracts, Represent
ing mileage Of As miles, with plans
and estimates under way for thirty
OF rs miles. The greater part of this
we hope to let to contract in the next
ON the county systems VIC have
constructed 205 miles. at tho same time
, maintaining somo 1900 miles OF high
we have in the tentative construc-
ton program, which was issued by
many Of sat tEe State
system, scattered throughout the differ
ent parts of the state. From a cur
may jump to the conclusion that this
! is but carrying forward the original
lack OF policy OF the State in the In
! full consideration OF the situation as
We see 1t. deliberately and inte ntion-
investments already made By tho coun-
| ties. some to connect up improved Sec
sGn ,As and 's erys,a ss rosa
sentiment in communities-all of them
made. having in mind tina. big high
il We are to keep abreast of other
States and develop our wonderful re-
steu IA Rinbf nSr>~fto,
The foregoing appropriations are a
! long step in the riEht direction. rep
,lo.ooo.o6o handsome sum. until
you consider the magnitude of the
work ahead OF us. then 1t seems almost
How then, you ask. are we to
! of the State: There are several very
| natural suggestions which imm ed late y
| come TO mind:
! IF We are to secure Intelligent plan
our country il Will be necessary for
! the national government to realize Its
| respons 'bili;y in this matter and un-
tional system OF highways; this to in
! cIudc the main arteries of travel OF
the country at large. and to carry on
/ roads to be constructed and matnt1ined
! entirely at the expense OF the national
am coh' ihis t5om ine
which is going on throughout the coun-
try at the present time that the re-
1e o5 ths pis s,a qt iutue
| siust Not lie Tempted.
| However. this probable development
! consummation Of our State highway
! system. even though we may be rca-
! sonably sure THAI certain routes in our
! system will lie made part OF. the
! national system. for just as sections OF
our State system were improved
! through the initiative OF the more pro-
/
! nucleus OF our system. and as these
| Improved sections become potent fac
! routes forming that section, just so
+, Will the advanced attitude OF the sew
eral States become powerful influence
| In the welding together OF Grea,
! national system.
! II think We can rest assured that
| the greater the development or our
| mileage taken over and included in the
! national system. Further. We can richly
our own initiative and enterprise IL
| we can induce tho national govern
! ment To- take over these highways after
| their construction and MAINTAIN them.
| Would Relense Funds.
| This Will relieve us OF tremend-
GUS burden, and will .; release to .s US
! great advantage in the further develop
| inent OF our State and county systems.
Any national plan ad9P1ed VII 1ro one
! fifth TO one-fourth OF our present state
willie we can feel reasonably sure
! that the national system is not very
| distant We cannot afford, as stated
| above. to base our program on us dc-
| velopmert 1t is. therefore. necessary
| that we should work out our plans,
! having. the foregoing possibility IN
! mind AS outlined to YOU in opening.
| We Included in the State highway sys-
! tenn some $3.50 miles OF main high
! ways While some OF this mileage has
J already been constructed. the changes
! in traffic conditions have been SO rapid
| in the past few years that It VIII ne
| cessitatc the resurfacinE ana reouiio-
| ing OF the greater part OF It,
| "Our plan. then. should include ene
| raising OF from 100000 to S'o'eOe.-
coo TO be utilized. Il possible. In SIN
! yea5 period. The highway department
| as at present organized VIII be IN
| nosition as soon as this fund could be
| made available, to eXpend from ss,Ooo.-
! 600 sl0,000oo0 the first year. si0.oo9,-
| 900 the second year. s2o,ooo,ooo the
| third year, and s15ooo,oo each sue
, ceeding year, or n total OF the above
| amount IN tine siS-year period.
Expect. Increased Fund.
| or the above amount we are re-
| ceiying at the present time from the
! Federal government, s2.oo0,ooo annual
! w I have every reason to believe that
| this amount will be materially in.
| creased during the next year feel
| confident that when the national gov
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