Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-01-27
HALT STATE
ROAD BUILDING
Teter Begins First of Series of Ar
ticles on Progress of Road Constuc-
ton in West Virginia.
BY Dwight H. Teter

1927, unless suitable legislation is
enacted by the Legislature, con-
struction of roads In West Virginia
viii come to an end.
By that time the $50,000,0 1000
|. raised by bond issue five years ago
be exhausted. The approx
nately 100000 of the sinking fund
for the retirement of an equal amount
Of the road bonds which may be
made available by this session of the
Legislature and also this years
quota of federal aid, amounting to
s793,000 for road construction, by
the end of tne present year will also
be exhausted. There will then be no
funds available with which to build
additional roads.
1t is high time, therefore, that the
people of West Virginia make up
their minds what they want to do in
respect to good roads in this state.
More Funds Necessary
There is but one of two things to
be done: Either continue building
good roads or stop building good
roads.
If more good roads are desired, it
viii be necessary to raise more
money with which to build them II
it is not desired to build any more
good roads, then there is no problem
and all that is necessary is for the
Legislature to refuse to make pro-
visions for raising funds for road
construction.
The latter event is hardly within
the realm of probability. The people
IL ,5est 4lrginia have sampled"
good xo..as and it would be very
a1rpr;sils i they we're willing for
road work to cease with our road
building program still far short of
+ completion; N fact, just about half
completed.
Five years ago the state of West
Virginia seriously undertook the con-
struction of a network of good
roads. Few people do not remember
the apt slogan of that time: "Pull
West Virginia Out Of The Mud" A
fifty million dollar bond issue was
voted by the people, State Road
Commission was organized and road
building on an extensive scale was
commenced.
During the FIVE years much has
been ACCOMPLISHED. Much remains
to be done.
Progress Made
Five years ago there were but 1871
miles of improved roads in West
Virginia, which by the way, have been
largely reconstructed during the past
five years. Today there are 1900
miles of state and county district
improved roads. On the state sys-
TEN $50 miles are yet unimproved
and 1149 miles are graded and ready
to be paved. Until this work is com
pleted, it cannot be said that West
Virginia has an adequate mileage of
good reads or that the needs Of the
people for good roads have been
supplied.
During the past fge gea-s, L.,
during the time the state cor
structing 1880 miles &c 13od a2.
and some $50 bridges a 8 co.
$50,000,0OO, the various ca.2.ie
districts and municipalities have bui;,.s.
approximately 21OO miles Of i'm
proved roads at an es1imatel oGet
Of $31, 100000. Yet with 81 T. $
road construction and with The e.
penditure Of these vast sums Of
money, there is not a county If the
state ready to admit that it has suf-
fcient good roads. There is no5 II
county in the state but that IS inter
ssted in the completion OF certain
road projects. If road building were
to halt today, the greatest cutlery
in the history Of the state would be
heard, and in a days time there
would be line of taxpayers forty
niles long at the Governor Office
cIammering for more roads.
The state Of West Virginia is COM
N nitted to an adequate good roads
program; it has made suitable pro-
gress much, in fact, that the
prosperity of the state as {. whole
and the comfort and satisfaction of
it's people practically demand the
completion Of the program.
Not 0ner0us
The people Of West Virginia have
not found the construction Of COOL
roads an especially onerous task. OF
Acourse, there have been regeettah' e
Aacidents Of local character 1t IS
5 ! hard matter to please everyone;