Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1923-02-02

own, but ] have the profound con-
viction that promises made by can
didates become binding contracts
after election. Violation of ante-elec-
tion pledges is subversive of the most
vital principle of representative de-
mocracy. If any officials has come to
pass when he thinks he cannot keep
his promises he should resign. If his
constituents approve of his change of
front they can re-elect him. If other
wise they should have the opportuni-
| ty to elect some one who will repre-
sent their wishes.
ca Mr. Elliot criticises me for ac-
cepting what he calls the "jumbled
| figures" of Auditor Moore. Until the
Good Roads Association establishes
its legal right to control the account
| ing of public funds l am compelled TO
accept as correct the financial state
ments of the Auditor of Public Ac
counts. Mr.. Moore is man of high at
| tainments, of long experience, and OF
| irreproachable character. He enjoys
and deserves in an unusual degree the
confidence of the people of Virginia.
IL ID IA<tl AO NOQiO 9
port more money due the Highway
Department than is actually coming
to it. He would be responsible for the
difference. In any case, Virginia is
indeed in a bad way if citizens can
not base their opinions and con-
illusions upon the financial state
ments of high officer of state whose
business it is to keep the books of
the state.
Auditor Moore reported that on
December %, 1922, there was an I'M
Expended balance of state funds for
road construction of S2,244 ,843 40, and
unexpended federal funds of S3,748,
$1,000, making total of 1898, 77430.
In addition to this the governor stated
in his statement of December 2, 1922,
that the sum of nearly $3,000,000 had
been recently contracted to cad
vanced to the State by localities. This
amount at that time had not been al
located. Chairman Shirley, on jan
uary 2, 1923, said: Contractors are
paid monthly on approximate esti-
mates sent in by the district engineers
Of the amount of work done less 10
per cent" l therefore contend that
the unexpended balances together
with the loans already made under
the Robertson Act represents roads
yet to be built, less possibly 10 per
cent. With the aid of the bond ad-
vocates, three-cent gasoline tax
can be made an emergency measure
and for the fiscal year March l, 1928
to 1924 this tax plus existing reyenu-
es will give for 1928 construction q
new fund of $6,07S,56S.9S.
90 Mr.. Elliot says that in 1916 /
introduced bill to abolish the State
Highway Department and divide the
state funds among the counties. Again
ne is mistaken. In 1916 the State
Highway system had not been created
and the activities of the department
were confined to the construction of
county roads to which the counties
contributed one-half the cost. My bill
was for the purpose of curbing the
autocratic power of the State Highway
Department in dealing with joint
state and county roads over which the
county authorities had then no voice,
although contributing one-half the
funds.
Mr.. Elliot fails to state that many
of the measures l then advocated to-
wards the management of joint state
and county roads have been enacted
into law. In 1918 with the establish
ment of the state system l was one
of the patrons of the bill that created
the system. This gave exclusive con
troll of state highway construction and
maintenance to the State Department.
| have opposed any effort to divide
this responsibility. In the reorganiza-
ton of the State Highway Department
last winter the leading bond ad-
vocates were yiciously and bitterly
endeavoring to prevent a bona fide
reorganization of the Highway De-
partment demanded by the people of
Virginia
The first consideration of any pub
lie servant should be to see that ex-
listing funds are expended efficiently
before new funds are appropriated.
In Virginia the first consideration OF
many bond advocates is to provide
huge sums. Little if any attention is
apparently given to securing a dollars
worth of roads for dollar of the tax
payers money.
(6) Mr.. Elliot takes me severely TO
task because of my mention of the
tax rate IN certain bond counties
which he claimed were "handpicked. :"
Mr.. Elliot then attempts to show that
nf fn4O 1, ~
agricultural census has advanced
more in bond counties than in non
bond counties. He says that in
Augusta county, which has issued
$730,639 of road bonds, the proper
values have increased from S54.0O per
acre for land and buildings in
1910 to $108.00 in 1920. HAVING Sc
lected Augusta as his example If Mr.
Elliot desires to continue this line of
argument l challenge him to com
parlson between the great agricul-
tural counties of Rockingham and
Augusta, Augusta, heavily bonded, and
Rockingham free of road debt, both
Valley counties, lying side by side
and peopled by the same class of
citizenship, and the acreage and popu-
lation of both being approximately
the same. In Augusta the value of
farm buildings and land per acre
was, by the U. S. agricultural census
1910 $4,000 per acre
1920 10000 y.
(Not $10S.O0 as stated by Mr. Ell
liot.)
In Rockingham County:
1910 $500 per acre
1920 107.00 /"
Now let us consider the value of
land alone, because of course the
value of buildings on an acreage
basis depends largely on the size of
the farms and other conditions are
not comparative.
In Augusta the value OF land was as
follows:
1910 1925
1920 1926 I"
An increase of So per cent between
1910 and 1920.
In Rockingham the value was as
follows:
| 1910 40.46 I"
1920 81.0S /"
An increase of 100 per cent between
1910 and 1920.
In 1910 tho vaItYa nor ooro IN tbo