Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-10-14
Experimental Roads.

Inink TOT themselves. They are not
takiag him seriously.
Experimental Roads.
lie made the statement that roads
at present are I'm the experimental
stage and that We are liable to build
that kind. Apparently he thinks the
people Of the state are ignorant Of the
fact that the federal government now
furnishes specifications for hard roads
ana II is necessary TO follow these
plans To get the benefit OF federal aid
which will be Of great assistance to
west Virginia in the plan of the state
wide road system. The specifications
the government furnishes are fully ad.
equate 10 meet the requirements OF
heavy truck travel. II one wants TO
prove this, ii is only necessary TO
travel In other states where roads have
been constructed under federal super.
vision
Who Are Interested.
He has asked this question: Who
are interested in this good roads move
ment in West Virginia? He declares
that the larger part OF the people in
terested personally in the amendment
are those who are interested In the
construction OF roads, the sale of ma
terals and the sale OF road building
machinery. He states that they are
the most active. This Is direct fall
sitication. The West Virginia Good
Roads Federation is an organizatl ton
composed of representative citizens
and business men of the state and It's
work is being Maintained by voluntary
subscriptions, by the loyal citizenship
of West Virginia. who are wide awake
to the states needs and the economic
throughout the state. My interest I'm
this project liz purely from n civic
standpoint. The citizens Of the state
favor the amendment because they
want q system of roads constructed
within five years and not to exceed
eight years SO they will get some use
OF them during their life time. They
do not want to walt thirty or forty
years which would be required by the
present system and laws In vogue In
the state. II he had endeavored to do
something of this kind ten years ago,
he would no doubt have had the thanks
and appreciation of the people OF the
state instead Of casting his lot among
the very small aggregation Of people
who are against good roads and public
improvements
The Perpetual Bond Issue Scare.
He has tried to friEhtan the people
Of West Virginia. saying ratification Of
this amendment means q perpetual
bond issue Will be placed on the Akoul-
ders Of the state. This n net trus.
will quote the Last sentence ef the
fret part Of the RIneAAsAsat:
'-The legislature shaA ales Vos1A1. q
state revenue 10 bHNA. cSasksvA a.
maintain, or assist In buiidlAx. COZ.
Sructtng and zaiakaiAlAg ~ ssnA
and for that purpose GhAll havs DsvSr
TO authorize the Issuing 40 ssiliAS Il
state bsnaA the aggregate S9AsAanI1AS
amount OF which, 1t any saS uaA
shah Hst s1eeoi Fly nmk.a L0n~-
That Is where he steps rsalAax. -
second part Of o. AAAAAnAAn4
Lt - SHsss -:
when q b0Ak iSsus - a<O>aAA -
authorized. the legislature shall At the
same time provide for the csllsctiSa Of
an annual state tax sufficient 70 pay
annually the interest on such debt, and
the principal thereof. within, and not
exceeding thirty years."
There is the point Does any one
hinE hA -
90 over thirty yearsf The proposed
amendment itself strictly provides that
thirty years is the limit for collecting
an annual state tax to pay the Interest
and principal Of this dobt-
The bends san Not BE iasSel fsr q
longer period. Then does any one
think this - perpetual bsal isssea
He - like everJ sth~ 1ault-AnAsr in
q good roads campaign. He says like
every ether enc:
Il am FOR good reads. Oh 20, am
for good roads But not this plan. No.
not this plan"
Here Are Some Facts.
Think this over for yourself. In
1919 Uncle Sam spent 1888, ZOO. 900 for
more roaas. In round figures this is
1913 Eor every individual In the coun-
try. Is this not q wonderful advance
OF general Development Fifteen years
ago the nations bill for roads was $50.
OOo,OOO per annum. But times have
changed. 1t is just this. Almost $780,
100000 will be spent In 1920 for roads
and literally billions in the years to
come. Talk about the era Of railroad
development in the years following the
civil war. Why ii is q pigmy in COM
parison.
/ Am thoroughly convinced that the