Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-11-29

Progressive legislation and an a.
saendment to the state constitution
have made possible the splendid pro-
gram Of modern highway construct
ION now being carried out in West
Virginia. A great forward step was
taken by the legislature on Febru-
airy %, 1917, when it passed an act
creating a statewide system Of in
ser-county roads In 1919, joint
resolution was passed, submitting
to the people what is known as the
good roads amendment. This was
ratified by popular vote on Noyem-
Der 2,1920. Pursuant thereto, the
legislature at the 1921 session pass
ed an act, providing for the establish
rnent of state road system, author
izing the sale Of road bonds, and
creating the State Road Commission
of three members to exercise author
ity and control over construction and
maintenance.
The Statewide Inter-county System
Between the statewide system OF
5nter-county roads, established in
1917 and the purely state system
provided for in 1921, there were
number of important differences.
The act of 1917 provided for the dis
iribution of state and federal aid to
The various counties, In order to re-
ceiye aid, each county had to appro-
priate a sum of equal to that re-
ceived from the state and federal
governments. The distribution OF
state and federal money was made
TO the counties by State Road
Commission Of two members. The
right to designate the roads which
were to be constructed jointly by the
counties and the state and federal
governments, was given to the county
courts. The Road Commission was
REQUIRED to approve of the designa-
lions made by the county courts.
The states share of the funds re-
ouired for this construction work
was obtained from the net proceeds
Of all state license taxes on automo-
biles, motor or steam driven vehicles
the registration fees of chauffeurs,
all sums donated to the road fund,
and sums appropriated to it by the
Legislature or by the Congress Of
the United States. Each county's
share was raised by road levy not
to exceed rs cents on each one hun
bred dollars valuation.
The State Road System
The act of 1921, embodying the
constitutional amendment ratified
by the people in 1920, provided that
the state should take over the con-
struction and maintainence of certain
roads or routes in each county, thus
relieving the counties from all furth-
er obligation and expenses as to such
highways. This provision also APP
Piled to cities and towns of fewer
than $500 persons. The roads or
routes SO taken over by the state
from the various counties, cities and
towns, constitute the state road sys-
TEN, over which the state exercises
exclusive authority. The state and
federal governments continue to CO.
operate, the federal aid being APP
Piled now to the new state road sys-
tenn under the same regulations as
governed its application to the state
wide inter-county system. All con-
tracts covered by state and federal
funds, for roads forming part of
the state system, are let by the State
Road commission, which also exercis-
es full supervision ever construction
and maintenance. In some counties
funds have been RAISED by the coun-
ties to be expended on roads forming
part of the state road system
Contracts covered by such funds are
let by the county COZ $, but super
vision of surveys and construction. is
in all such cases in the hands of the
State Road Commission.