Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-08
LEADERSHIP IN ROAD CONTROL
CLAIMED IN FAIRFAX COUNTY
Engineer Larkin Reports on Highway I'm
provements Effected First Year Under
Management of Board of Supervisors.

The county's main need now accord
ing to Mr.. Larkin, is for funds to insure
the permanent improvement of the 10
cal roads. Under the present law such
funds can only be secured through an
increase In the district road levies, as
money. raised by the gas tax and the
general county road levy can only be
spent on roads placed by the State in
the official county system.
Fairfax County has become pioneer
in road construction and highway EN-
cheney In rural. Virginia. The general
road law of the State, adopted in 1928,
is patterned as closely as possible upon
practices already established in Fairfax
County. There have been three county
engineers in Fairfax County, the f1rSt
two serving for brief periods. In Octo-
Der 1926. on completion of the bond
issue construction work In Falls Church
and Dranesville district, F. N. Larkin
transferred from the State highway de-
partment to the county. Fairfax tnere-
fore anticipated the general State law
advocating employment Of county en-
Rineer by q year and half. The work
was started on O small scale. the only
funds available in 1925 for expenditure
by Mr.. Larkin being the bond issue
maintenance funds. Control and opera
ton of all district roads remained in
the hands of six separate district road
boards. composed of 10 men unframed
in modern road construction, until these
boards were abolished by law last June.
Road Fund Totals $1S9.122.S6.
During the past year. covering the
period July /, 1928. to July l, 1923. the
county treasurer's books show that the
county road fund amounted to $l89,-
1926. A summary prepared by Mr..
= ,.i,ty fo~ he hOorA NJ eIfnarVtcnfC CIV.
ing itemized figures on costs OF ROAD
construction (the first time such figures
have been segregated and available In
Fairfax County,, shows that $58,22l .S5
was expended during the past year on
the district roads. This was divided:
$43,854.s5 for labor, $4,321.37 for stone,
$4,001 go for pipe, $697.20 for gravel,
$29 for lumber and $5,317.S3 for miscel:
laneous costs During the same period
roads, $6,S25.51 on bridges divided,
$5,546 90 for labor and $3,278.52 for ma
terial), $2,714.21 was spent on guard
rails and signs.
A second summary prepared oy Mr.
Larkin for information of the super
visors shows that during 1928 $37O,-
l24.55 was disbursed through the coun-
ty engineers ONCE. This included
$113,836.97 for road work. $4,000 for
the new clerks ONCE building, $3,266.6O
for the road police, which were last year
placed under the supervision of the
highway department, and $l79,020.98
for miscellaneous work. such as bridges,
road camp, quarry, compensation IN
surance, new equipment, contract work
for the Incorporated towns in the coun-
ty. etc. Only "a per cent was assessed
for supervision and ONCE overhead.
BUDGET NJ Year Outlined,
The budget adopted by the super
visors covering the present fiscal year,
July /, 1929, to July l, 1880, shows
$212,63370 available this year from
county and district levies and from
the State gas tax. Although the super
visors decreased the road levies this
year owing to a demand for lowered
tax rates, the total estimated as avail
able for road work shows slight increase
over last year, owing to an estimated IN
crease In gas tax funds, which last year
amounted to $37,94O.11. OF this years
1912, 633.7O $500 has been allotted for
supervision, $18,500 for purchase of new
equipment, $12O, 69290 for maintenance
of district and county roads. SIS ,329, ~
for new road construction and $48 l.Ol
for bond issue interest and sinking
funds.
Thanks to the foresight of Mr.. Larkin
and to the support he has received
from the commemorative attorney and
board of supervisors, Fairfax County
can boast ownership Of road building
equipment second to none in Virginia.
The county maintains the only perma-
nent county road equipment depot In
the State This was completed in 1927.
It is located on a 1.4-acre tract in the
approximate center Of the county, at
the junction of the Little River turn
pike and Burke road. The depot in
cludes threepermanent buildings, which,
with the lot, could not be duplicated
for $4,000. A shed 100 feet long houses
the trucks and other county equipment.
One end is equipped with forge and
Smithy the other as a tool room. At
tractive living quarters are provided, u
by "a feet, with bathhouse 20 by Is
feet. These buildings are thoroughly
modern throughout, Of fireproof tile
construction, with hot and cold running
water, electricity. septic tank, large
living and dining room and sleeping
the building has been tastefully land
scaped. The county's labor turnover
has been practically eliminated with
the construction of this comfortable
camp. Men are now on the county pay
roll who have been here ever since the
camp was started, as well as others
formerly with the State for is years,
who followed Mr.. Larkin to Fairfax
County. Each is a specialist in road
construction, and the work done in the
county bears evidence to the wisdom
of this policy. n
Average Of County Pay Roll.
The county pay roll averages 100,
running as high as 125 during rush
seasons, dropping as low as 30 in the
Winter. This includes laborers, fore
men, patrolmen and ONCE assistants.
At the camp a blacksmith, wheelwright,
two mechanics and cook are occupied
full time. the savings effected In the
maintenance and repair Of all county
equipment being more than sufficient
to pay their expenses. In addition there
Is now an executive assistant at camp
in charge Of purchase and issue Of sup
plies and equipment. All supplies are
purchased at wholesale and issued to
the foreman on orders and then check
ed to the particular road and district
where used. Bridge construction is in
the hands of an experienced foreman
and carpenter, who, with their forces,
are also available for general repair
work at the courthouse, jail and other
county buildings. In the Office of the
highway department Mr.. Larkin has an
assistant TO the engineer, q bookkeeper,
timekeeper and clerk.
The highway department., according
to its latest inventory, now owns equip
mefit valued at $44,336, some Of It In
herited from the old District road
boards. This includes seven fourston