Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1921-11-04
&c TIE. VOTERS or
SHENANDOAH COUNTY,

During my service in the State
Senate | have constantly advoca-
ted such changes in our road laws
as would result in a comprehen-
sive improvement of all public
roads.
Hand to hand with the trunk
roads should be constructed the
feeder. or farm-to-market roads,
as obviously the main roads can
only be of value to the farmer i'll
relation to the state of improve
ment of the connecting 70; is.
To reach fancy road a ,er
miles of mud does not benefi The
farmer as his load is limited by
the worst and not the best road
he must traverse.
Amendments | have offered to
the road law now give to the local
boards of Supervisors the author
ity to choose the type of road for
state aid roads so that cheaper
roads may be constructed. An
amendment offered by me and
adopted provides for the selection
OF competent local road engi-
neer to have charge Of state aid
road construction so as to avoid
sending engineers from Rich
mond. This and other changes
| have advocated having always
in mind that the needs Of agricul
ture-the basic industry in Wade
mand Uniform road improvement
which cannot be accomplished un-
less cheaper types of roads are
built and larger appropriations
are allowed the tributary roads.
My views on this question are
well known and | will not con-
sumo space for further discussion
The purpose of this comrnunica-
ton is to call attention to a vital
matter affecting the taxpayers Of
the valley. | was one OF nine
members of the State Senate to
vote against the submission to
the people of the amendment to
the constitution permitting the
General Assembly to bond the
state without limit for road i'm
provement. | did this because l
believed that bonds should be is
sued only by direct authorization
Of the voters for specified
amounts and that the authorltyto
mortgage our property should
not be delegated TO the General
Assembly. The Valley voted
nearly solidly against the amend
ment to Section 1874 of the Con-
stitution, which permits the Gen
eral Assembly to issue bonds alb
solutely without limit. Unfortun
atelY the amendment was adopted
by the state ma lority of $4,000
and even if the effort to issue
bonds is defeated next session it
will be renewed by the bond adj
vocated at each succeeding ses-
sion. Being confronted by this
financial menace, we should care
fully study the platforms of our
two political parties as we'll as
personal views of candidates for
the Legislature so as to ascertain
how our interests may best be
safeguarded.
Senator Trinkle's county of
Wythe voted 1868 against the
bona amendment to 7S5 for. The
City of Richmond (Col. Ander-
sons home) voted 1887 in favor
Of bonds and 1900 against.
Let us examine the Republican
platform on the road question::
This platform says that the Re-
publican party is opposed to bond
at the present time but the Dem
ocratic party is severely condemn
ned because Section 1874 OF the or
iginal Constitution of 1902 pre-
vented the issuance of bonds. In
other words the mendment adop-
ted last fall is indirectly endors-
ed by the Republican platform.
That part Of the platform is re-
produced below:
(From Republican State Plat
form, adopted in Norfolk.)
PUBLIC ROADS
The constitution of 1902 by pro
hbiting the credit of the state for
public improvements and PRO-
HIBITING the assessment of any
. art of the cost of permanent
highway against ahutting lands
peculiarly benefited therefrom.
completely tied the hands of the