The daily times., 1921-10-18

maximum amount.
We are preparing to put on cam
paign for bond issue, and | am try
ing to give my people all the lnforma-
tion possible regarding same Will
appreciate any light on the subject
JOHN D. GOLD,
Editor. Daily Times.
No reply to this letter has been re-
ceived.
Mr. Heriot Clarkson Explains System
Hon. Heriot Clarkson of Charlotte,
a member of the legislature whlch
framed the Doughton-Connor road
bill has this to say of the plan Tor
building and maintaining state high
ways:
High Praise for Commission
| The state is divided into nine con-
struction districts; and. 20 carry out
this set, the burden is placed on a
| chairman and nine commissioners.
one from each construction district,
three of whom shall be of the minor
| ity political party. These commits
sioners have all been appointed and
are now serving; and l doubt, if in
the annals of the state have there
been ten more capable and efficient
men. necessary for SO great an under
taking These commissioners have
entire control of the state system of
roads The chairman is vested with
all the authority of the commission,
when same is not in session.
| Provision is made for state high
way engineer and assistants. The
commission has employed high class
efficient state engineer, and capable
and efficient engineers are located
in each construction district and
maintenance engineers in each dis
trict A map of the roads to be TAX
en- over by the state was attached to
the bill. An easy method of taking
over was provided. The commission,
Through its chairman, posted at the
lcounty courthouse door in each of the
one hundred counties in the state d
over in such county; and notice was
lalsO given to the road governing body
in each county. II no objections were
lmade in 60 days, they became state
roads. If there were objections,
these matters were heard by the en-
tire commission. Under this simple
method, $3.50 miles of roads have
been taken over by the state with
comparatively few contests, consider
ng the magnitude of the undertaking
These state roads, when taken over,
are to be maintained and kept up by
the state, the cost to be taken out of
the automobile and gasoline tax; the
layerage cost per mile is estimated to
ibe $500. The state roads taken over
are to be kept up before and after be-
ing rebuilt or hard-surfaced by the
Estate. Approximately 4,50O miles
taken over is now under maintenance
by state maintenance forces. 1t is vi
tai that all the state roads be main
tanned as soon as practicable. 1t is
estimated that the commission will
get this year nearly, 100000 from
the automobile gasoline tax to main
tain the roads, pay interest on bonds
and expenses of the State Highway
commission.
For building the roads, prov ision
, is made for $50.OOO,0OO serial bond
, issue, bonds to be sold as needed
Temporary loans can be made until
| bonds are sold The able-bodied con.
} victs of the state can be used in this
can be made with county authorities
for convicts 1t is estimated that the
l state will get about $2.5OO,00O eacf
-Iyear from the national government
The bond money is to be equally dis
l tributed into each construction dis
f trict on a basis of one-third in the
ratio of each district to the entire
: area of the state, one-third in the ra
D ito of population of the district, a:
e determined by last United States cen
e sus, to the entire population of thu
: state, and one-third in the ratio o
the state highway mileage of the dis
e trict in proportion to the total mil
n cage of state highways.
r Strong Care for Weak
= This division insures each and ev
b cry section of the state an equa
amount of construction fund, an,
l. this cannot be taken away. Roads il
leach district are to ho huiIf aS sim
ultaneously as possible. Equality il
construction and maintenance is tn
fixed purpose and intent of the act