Evening star., 1926-12-05
1900 Miles of Improved
Highways Will Add Moth
ing to States Debt.
PROGRAM IS CALLED =.
BOON TO WASHINGTON
Fifty Per Cent of New Routes De-
clared to Have Capital as
Ultimate Destination.


acquired and disbursed without sad
ding single penny Of debt on the
State. Existing tax levies, small
State appropriation and the usual
Federal contributions will pay the bill
entirely.
These facts were disclosed here to-
day by Col. H. G.. Shirley, chairman
Of the State Highway Commission, as
he breathed a deep sigh Of relief over
the final session Of the three most
riotous and amazing road appropria-
ton hearings the Old Dominion has
ever witnessed. And in the realization
Of his ambitious program, Col. Shirley
will have the active assistance OF Gov.
Harry F. Byrd.
Means Much to Washington.
The successful completion of this
program will mean much to Wash
ington. It is safe to estimate that so
per cent Of the paved highways now
definitely planned have the National
Capital as their ultimate destination.
Two, which will be finished immedi-
ately, radiate from Washington-the
Lee Highway to the Shenandoah Ma
tional Park and Shenandoah Valley,
and the North and-South Highway di-
rect to the North Carolina boundary.
To complete it's system of trunk
line State highways, Virginia must
Law down about / 200 miles Of paving
it must build the equivalent of road
that would reach more than third OF
the way across the continent. But
Col. Shirley is confident that 1t can
be accomplished within five years. and
without asking the State government
to borrow a single dollar. Gov. Byrd
added that he intends to see the arte-
rial highways finished in three years.
my administration is pledged 10
that goal and l shall see that 1t Is
attained" Gov. Byrd said, during an
interview. I'VE will spend S32,ooo'-
600 on roads in the next two years;
All of this will not, of course be useo
for new construction. About $b,Ooo,-
non will go to maintenance of exist
ing highways, about IS 100000 to the
counties for county roads. and the re-
mainder will add new mileage to the
States paved system.
Lee Highway Comes First.
col. Shirley explained why Arling-
ton County had failed to receive any
share in the State funds. The COM
mission felt. he explained. that com
pletion of the Lee Highway immedl-
ately was of first importance because
Of the approaching establishment OF
the Shenandoah National Park.
Around $500. 900 was needed for that.
It will be used to complete the gap
in the Lee Highway between Cherry
dale and Warrenton, which will save
motorists detour Of fully 20 miles.
I'VE could not possibly apportfon
any more money to that section the
road commissioner said. land we felt
that this highway would be Of the
utmost benefit to Arlington County.
We feel too. that Arlington County
has been pretty we'll taken care of.
We shall complete the Glebe road
as soon as possible, and in the mean
time we are planning to survey the
two boulevards Arlington County
wants"
This, it was intimated. ends Airing
tor County's hopes for this year. Col.
Shirley pointed out. however, that
each county gets two-thirds of its
gasoline tax collections. Arlington
County's heavy traffic nets handsome
incomes. While none of this money
can be used on State roads. the COM
mission feels that 1t insures excellent
county roads. while the State can lend
its aid to those sections which are less
fortunate.
Richmond Road Nearly Ready.
Within a fortnight, provided there
is no prolonged spell Of bad weather.
the last mile of the RichmondWash
ington road will be paved. This will
be a boon to Arlington County, too. it
is held. It will be the northern sec
ton of the North and.South Highway
to the North Carolina line, and some
thing like 100000 has been appro-
priated to complete the southern half.
When it is opened up. much OF the
traffic that uses the Valley pike in
western Virginia en- route South will
fellow this more direct route and pass
through Arlington County.
About S10.000,000 is to be spent on
new highway construction during
1927. This has been apportioned over
the eight State road districts more or
less evenly. with the more western
and southern counties faring slightly
better than the others. because they
suffered the most neglect in the past
and the need has grown correspond
inglv acute. This amount applies only
to State highways and does not take
into consideration what the counties
will disburse.
Virginia is embarked energetically
upon its good roads program.
when the remaining 1900 miles Of
the main State highways are COM
pleted, five years hence, the Old Do
minion will have at least as many and
possibly more miles of paved roads
than Maryland unless the latter takes
a sudden squirt.
Maryland to Hold Edge.
MARYLAND. however. being a much
smaller State. will still hold a decided
edge on Virginia in,<the percentage
figures. ~
Maryland now claims to lead all of
the States in the percentage Of paved
roads. with 5000 miles of its 15,o0o,-
000-mile system completed. During
the next three years. however, 1t plans
to spend only $4,000 900 annually for
new construction. Since 1908 Mary
land had spent $50 1000, 900 on building
new roads. $35. .o0o, 900 of which was
provided by State road bond issues.
These figures Indicate how seriously
Virginia has set about winning more
honorable place on the Nations good
roads" map.
The people Of Virginia decisively de-
fested plan to build its roads