Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1920-07-08
FACTS CONCERNING STATE HIGHWAYS
AMENDMENT PRESENTED IN PRIMER FORM

If there is any doubt in your mind
las to the feasibility of the proposed
amendment to the state constitution,
(which provides for a system of state
Highways connecting all county seats,
please read the following;
Q.-Why is IT necessary to amend the
state constitution before state high
way system can be built?
A.-The constitution does not pro-
vide for state supervision and main
tenance of highways.
Q.-Who has this power2
Alt is vested in the comfy courts,
sometimes assisted by advisory com
mittees.
o.-Why change this system?
A.-There 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, If a comprehensive highway sys-
tenn is built to connect all county
seats.
Q.-ls this necessary
! Ayes. History has proved that
in a 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 ali main thorough
fares are built to connect, thus making
up a 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 Virginia?
A.-Approximately 900.
Q.-WiIl any more be built this
year.
A.-The state road commission says
there is enough money available to
build 300 miles this year.
Q.-hiow many miles of hard road
are needed to connect all county seats?
A.-2,200. With 900 miles built, and
money available to build 800 more this
year, there are still 900 miles of hard
road unprovided for, if the state CON
meets county seats.
Q.-What is the cost of this goo
miles?
A-The cost would vary in accord
ance with the type of roads built
Q.-gow does the state intend to
raise the funds necessary to conplete
this system7
A.-The proposed constitutional
amendment provides that the legsla-
ture lAay issue state bonds not to eX-
coed $5O000,000 and to be retired in
thirty years.
Q.-How would sinking fund be
created to retire these bonds?
Although what is known as the
illinois Plan" or increased automobile
license revenue. This means increased
automobile registration as the result
of extending road system.
Q.-Is this necessary?
A.-At the time this amendment was
submitted to the legislature for ap-
proval before going to the voters, it
was thought to he the most logical
method. However, increased automo-
bile registration since that time, des-
pite the lack of hard roads, has led
many to believe that a bond issue
would not be neces sary.
Q.--What will the automobile
revenue amount to this year?
A.-The State Road Commission has
estimated that ii will reach 1900 GEO
this year.
Q.-What is the total number of cars
registered so far this year?
A-At the time this is being written
It is approximately 59.900. 1t is be
lieved the registration will reach 64,-
600 before January l. 1921.
Q.-What percentage of increase
Will this show for the year?
Approximately 81 per cent.
Q.-lf the legislature decides to is
sue bonds amounting to $50, ooo, 600,
now will they be issued?
A.-No one can SAY now, but the
Nest Virginia Good Roads Federation,
he organization sponsoring this con-
stitutional amendment. fayors what is
known AS the give Year Plan rhis
means bonds amounting to $1o0o0,e0o
will be issued each year for a period
IF five years.
0.-Hase the taxpayers any reason
to believe that this "Five-Year Ptan''
will be adopted by the legislature, il it
| is decided to issue bonds7
| A.-They certainly have. Is it not
reasonable to assume that an organi.