Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1923-01-12
Overhead appropriation 2S5, $4,000
Convict road force S42 $4,000

Overhead appropriation 285, $4,000
Convict road force 342, $4,000
$6,O7S,56S.9
This statement assumes that the
value of the work of the 700 convicts
employed ON roads is at least equal to
their upkeep. To this must be added
the sum of $2,244,S4340, unexpended
balance of state funds in the hands of
the Auditor on the 2Sth of December,
1922, and subject to the order of the
State Highway Department.
On December %, 1922, there was a
balance of federal funds of $3,74S,930.-
80 due Virginia from the federal
treasury. This will be increased by
an ALLEGATION to Virginia for 1923 of
1871 ,218.98, making a total of S4,720,-
1883 available. have no explana-
ton of the fact that these co-opera-
tive roads have not been built, and
tie $3,748,930.90 not obtained from
Re federal treasury for the purpose
u building new roads. Nevertheless,
there the money is and it is not the
fault of the Virginia taxpayer that it
is not utilized. Therefore, this mon
ey and the unexpended balance Of
state and federal funds must be added
to the available resources of the high
way department for 1924 for con-
struction:
New funds, as per previous
table $6,078,56898
Unexpended Va. funds
(Dec. %, 1929 2,244,S43 40
Federal aid fund unex-
pended (Dec. %, 1929 3,74S,93O.90
TOTAL s12.O72.3432 %
Less amounts due contractors for
work already executed, this huge sum
will be available for construction for
the appropriation year 1924.
l have dealt above with state and
federal funds alone. In his statement
of December 2, 1922, Governor Trim
nile says that under the Robertson
Act, on Oct. list, 1851, 805.08 and an
additional amount of $4,000 up to
December LIST, has been contracted
for to be advanced to the state, MAX
ing a total of $4,251, S05.08. OF this
amount, approximately 100000 had
not then been allocated or let to con-
tract, and will be new road fund for
1923 construction. This will bring
the amount of available construction
money for 1924 to $15,072, 3432S,
less amounts due contractors for COM
nj SC
more than the maximum amount sug-
gested by the governor in his state
ment of December 2, 1922.
Outside of these enormous sums, the
ability and energy of the department
will be further taxed by the expendi-
ture of the joint fund of $1,400 900 an
nually for state and county roads and
the expenditure of the automobile Ii
cense fund estimated in 1923 at $1,000
600 for maintenance.
So much for 1923 construction. For
future years the following progress
sive taxes will yield an increasing and
reliable flow of funds:
% automobile licenses, ~ mill
property tax, 90 Sc gasoline tax. Ded-
ieated to road maintenance and con-
struction, these sources OF revenue
will in few years yield an enormous
sum.
The Auditor of Public Accounts, an
official of great capacity and expert
ence, is the bookkeeper and banker
for the state. His figures for the
highway department must be correct,
baceuse he is responsible for the mon
ey reported by him to, be in his hands,
and he settles yearly with the State
Highway DepaIttIzfSnt He reports the
actual cash on hand. The-So ate 11igf-'
way Department after it has made a
contract to build a road and allocated
certain amount to such road, treats
the money as spent and the road as
built. l do not question the state
ment of the State Highway Commits
sion that contracts have been let for
the unexpended balances, yet the peo-
pie are interested in knowing what
funds are available for roads that
have not been built, though contract
ed for. Contractors are paid as their
work progresses; therefore cash bal
ances on hand must be construed to
largely represent work not yet done.
In other words, the money has been
provided, but the roads have not been
built. Nevertheless, it is the business
of the highway department to COM
plete this work, and as long as any
mile is uncompleted it is the current
business of the department. That a
great amount of work is not yet done
is obvious from the fact that the fed
eral government has had for years a.
huge sum ready to be paid Virginia
upon the completion of the co-opera-
tive highways.
If it takes a lie gasoline tax to nav
the interest and retire a $4,000, 900
bond issue, then it follows that it will
take at least SC tax, after allowing
for largely increased gasoline con-
sumption, to pay the interest and re-
tire the minimum $4,000, 900 bond is
sue advocated by Senator Goolrick
of Fredericksburg and the Good
Roads Association. For thirty-one
years (the length of the proposed
bond issue) the gasoline tax of &c
must be dedicated for this sole pur-
POoN' liz AhtClOoC On LIlc 9Ou,UUU,UUU
bond issue, retired gradually in ac-
cordance with plan proposed in
81 years, is S45,656,000 at 41aqo. ALI the
proceeds of the bond issue will be ex-
pended in seven years. At the end of
seven years, from the present sources
of revenue, Virginia will only have the
license tax for maintenance and the
present mill tax for construction,
plus the federal aid. Will Virginia
practically stop road building after
seven years? If not, new bond issues
or new taxes must then be created.
1t is clear that gasoline tax of 10
will only be uncontested for the first
s12000,00 of bonds. Mr.. j. A. Kline,
president of the Virginia Automobile
Dealers Association has, recently no.
titled the members of the General AS
sembly that his association will only
approve a lie gasoline tax to pay the
interest and retire a s12,000,000 bond
issue. After the state is committed to
the bond issue plan by passing the
first $12,000,000, then it is clear that
certain interests will strongly oppose
any additional gasoline tax, and the
burden will likely fall upon general
nrnnorfr tov The 80 49,,