The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-01-02

ssen is mxre i Iii Il rsstrict ~ ssAnhgs
sas inadA which AIRS to be Transported
over our ihlEhways. With the result that
tho dayeIobmrnt OF motor transport
uiis be much retarded. Such condi~
lion might seriously afrect the bust
ileSS dF f15Hy w1nrTruTtrtvs IN trr -rtnte
not proeided with railroad transports-
ttcn.
OF the county highway system a,3a7
ntt:es have been maintained with the
Joint Ttate and cAunty funds at tota
tnzt Of ssnT.s4s.S2 inclusive Of a small
ar-r,int OF convict labor at an actual
ccst 81 s1ss $40 per ten hour day. =
The amounts given In connection
w .th both the state and the county
Highway systems include the cost or
fnaintenan nee on bridges, sorne NJ wnicn
q re- Isolated from any road mileage De-
ing maintained.
we are at work at the present time
in. the making or surveys ana IN the
preparation OF plans and estimates TOT
the construction OF the state highway
systern in accordance with the act
RAISED by the recent extra session on
the general assembly, and we are look
.nc forward to n better understanding
between the people of the atate and
tire highway department through the
work of the newly created state high
way co,pmission.
we. are also preparing the frst dis
trihstiaa sheet Of the funds now avail
al,ie and to, become available, both
rrt.rn the. nattonal government and the
various state appropriations. prepara-
tArT TO the first meeting OF the state
h4srf,wsy commission to he held on No
venber j. which the commission will
consider, ard later bold public hear
ing.
Ia addiction to the maintenance, as
above outlined, 1851 of road. contained
ir the state SYSTEM has been recon.
rtructed or re3urfaced at a total cost
OF st3S1eo. sc inclusiLs- of convict labor
at an actual cost Of s1.i5 clio per ten
hoCr day.
On the county systems 1915 miles
,vcrs reconstructed at a total cost OF
s7t.079et and s1otfs2o was expended
in minor repairs not included In main
terance.
On the state highway system new
CO Instruction has consisted OF sS'si
miles Of surfaced roaa-ef-various types
and TWENTY-FIVE miles of sunsurfaced
rraring at a total cost OF $s71.32 e.75 In
elusive of convict labor at an actual
cost OF. st15- 6-1n per teu-hour day.
This does not include s32.2 3o15 expend-
ed in the construction of bridges of
more than twenty-foot span.
NEW TYPES -aE ROAD.
On the county systems new construc-
tier has consisted Of 20526 miles or
various types at a total cost OF s7bs,--
1913 inclusive Of convict labor at an
actual cost Of Sis e-16 per ten-hour
Ia
eyrended on bridues.
The gross value of convict labor
should be considered as equal 10 an
equivalent amount of free labor, how
ever, for convenience / have included
i'm the f5-egoing only the actual cost
OF this labor to t'fe state.
In addition to the above there has
been constructed several sections OF
road in connection with the war and
navy departments OF the national gov
errment as follows: Section from Guam
tico south to Chappawamsic swamp,
slightly over three miles. and cor
crete road from Lee Han to York
town, and from Lee Hall 10 Morrfsons.
All OF the counties. excepting four
made application for state aid for 1919
We have operated thirty three con-
Wet camps in the various sections of
tho state employing between eight and
TfnG HuhDTSN ConSbCtS ltDAf tine PSHi-
Tertiary and from two hundred and
fifty to three- hundred Jail men from
Tire county and city taiis, average cost
Fer- ten hour working day to the state
FOR tha rrzSs sear-5savtng heen' S1.f5 SCI
This -as "a, -sef.v material increase in eos'
oA-fr :. the early years Of this organi-
1al:on, -brnught about entirely BY the
high cost Of materials, labor. etc
The superintendent Of the peniten-
a
ao4nicaliy and efficiently under the ap-
pzorriation provided for that purpose.
however, these appropriations have
heretofore been too Limited to permit
several improvements. screens for
-t<+tchen-and dlnng-roorn, h r
baths cots. etc, witch would add ma
terialiy to both the physical and moral
Welfare OF the prisoners.
Ii is TO be honed that the next Iegis-
lalure viii increase the appropriation
for the state convict road force sut-
hciently to permit the superintendent
to make these desirable improvements
In the camps The housing OF the prls-
orfs'rs in permanet buildings, in con-
pection with stone quarrfes and gravel
pits. as recommended in this report,
would enable the superintendent OF the
penItentiafy to put in many conve-
nlenoes and comforts not practica Bile
in use.
BOND ISSUES.
Bonds were issued in mine counties
and magisterial districts during the
past year amounting TO N.77a 500
Bonds were issued prior to October I,
1919 amounting TO sa.tsS coo. making
total of bonds issued to, date OF $40,
80 2Qd.
At the special session OF the gen
erai assembly held in August, OF this
wear the three-tenths mill tax was
increased to one mill tax, and the
automobile tax was increased fifty per
cent, this increase. together with the
'tne mill tax to be used as an offset to
federal aid. There was further APP
Precipitation made for state aid to the
counties of $4oa.o 0n. to be used by. them
IN the construction and IT maintenance OF
the county highway systems,
All of us. realize that these SUMS
are wholly inadequate to meet the
conditions which confront us today.
If the state in to have a brure rIy.con