Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-03-04
The GOOD ROADS BILL.
Bf DIR. c. r. MCCLISTIC. NlENIHin
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

the burden of road building i'm the
various districts or counties and
90 to insure the building of col
lateral roads to the proposed Stale
Highways.
The equitable thing would be TO
require the District or County to
petition the State Highway Cummis-
sion for State aid and the petition
ing County or District bc required
to pay 4 certain per cent Of the cost
of construction of said highway
within its borders.
This would place State aid on the
sam" basis as that on which FEEDER
al aid is granted to the States. The
State must provide certain per
ccnlagc of the funds before the Fed
cral aid is granted. Why should
not the same principle apply 10
State aid? This plan is in force in
Ohio and Michigan and some other
States.
The amount provided by the Dis
trlct Is Il certain per cent Of the
mileage cost of the roatt The Dis
trlct Is also permitted to choose the
type of road best suited TO the To-
cality.
In Michigan for a road costing
less than $4,000 per mile the Coun-
/, pays > per cent, for Il road cost
ing over $4,000 and less than S75,-
600 per mile the County pays ! IL
per cent, etc. This plan enables
The County TO choose its type of
road: TO assist in building the road;
and results in more miles of State
highway.
Applying this principle to our
own county. Does not or will not
the DiStric: through which the State
highway passes receive more bcnc-
lit from the road than will the rest
OF the County or State at large?
Why should the district that is bond
cd be required to carry its present
bonded debt and only receive State
ald on the same terms as does the
district which is moi 'bonded?" Is
it Just?
II would be equitable for the State
Highway Commission TO refund to
the districts which have bull. roads
an amount equal to the appraised
valuation of the roads SO built to
the State Highway Commission.
This was advocated by the Good
Roads Association. Since, however
there is objection to making a re-
fund why not require Il district that
has moi bonded to put UP Il certain
per cent Of the cost Of the road in
cash and permit the district which
has bonded and built or graded
roads put up in lieu of cash the
roads 50 graded or built at their ap-
praised value to the State Highway
Commission?
TO illustrate: Suppose that The
State Highway Commission decides
to build ten niles Of State Highway
in Frankford District at cost of
100000 per mile. total Of 5000
600. Frankford District must meet
10 per cent Of the cost or 500. 900.
blli instead Of putting up SCI. 900 in
cash The District can turn over to
The State Highway Commission 10
miles Of graded road at $4,000 per
mile and $1U.u0O in cash. In The
event the Commission decides to
build len miles of State Road in
which has 10! bond
ed. and The cost should be SCOT
per mile and williamsburg District
is required to meet 10 per cent. OF
he cost in order to secure The road
'Ir District will have to put up 500.
eco in cash since it has no graded
read TO offer in lieu Of cash and has
10 outstanding Indebtedness for
road construction.
Now what i, the tan paying status
nf ihc Districts? Frankford Will be
paying taxes for the interest on
md 10 retire HE District bonds, 10
pay intrTcS! on and TO retire The
Stale Road Bonds, AID on The So
300. William sburg will b" paying
.a,cs to pay interest on and 10 re
lire the 10000 District Bonds. and
10 pay interest on and TO retire the
State Road Bonds. Docs not this
,QualiHc the burden o! road taxes?
Should Williamsburg decide To
build Il cheaper road the cost would
be- less or with the same amount OF
money more miles OF road could be
constructed.
Should provision not be made
a District through which
4 State Highway passes should be
required ~ The state Highway Com
mission 10 grade and build hard
road 10 and connecting with thc
State Road? lnlrSs this be done
We viii have the arteries Of traffic
without the cHpillaricS TO feed them
Unless this done only ihosc living
on the State Roads will profit there
by and The rest Of the District Will
remain in the mud as at present.
So would il not be wise TO dele
gate 10 the Commission the power
10 rn,n.Nl Districts 10 construct and