The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-03-24
BY H. M. BERRY :
Secretary North Carolina Good
Roads Association

RALEIGH, Mar. "a. Especially.
The North Carolina plan to con.
struct and maintain a system OF
state highways was based on the
Issuance of bonds financed by
tax levies on motor vehicles and
gasoline, the idea being to give
the motorist service while paving
! for the roads. Other states, such
as Georgia and Virginia, pursued
a different policy of pay-as-you-
go and building their roads piece
meal. We considered it unfair
+ to the motorists to pay heavy
taxes on their cars and gas and
at the same time be subject to a
heavy mud tax. Scientists have
/ shown us that the life of a car,
Its general up-keep and effici-
ency, as between paved road
and a poor road, is much more
than offset by the taxes the mo-
torist has to pay for the good
road. So long as the policy OF
using this fund entirely for roads
was followed, there has been
practically no objection to this
tax. With any thought of diver
sion to other purposes. however,
the motorist becomes FESTIVE un-
der his burden.
Since the passage of the act of
1921 establishing the state high
way commission, other legisla-
lures of more recent years have
added to the responsibilities and
activities of the state highway
commission, such as:
/. Taking over for maintenance
and betterment $4,000 miles of
county roads, thereby lifting a
burden from the counties of 49,
100000 per annum, which was
their cost to the counties at the
time they were assumed by the
state.
2. Taking over the burden of
our entire prison population, both
state and county. Aside from the
prisoners which can b. used
profitably on the highwa, 5, there
are approximately 1000 prisoners
which must be supported and
lmay be classified as "deadheads."
! 8. Another duty imposed by
the last legislature is for the
commission to manufacture and
furnish lime at cost to farmers.
OUR INVESTMENT
We now have invested in the
state highway system:
! Federal and state money, $780,
100000; county money, $780,
600, 900; total investment, $780,
600, 900.
MAINTENANCE OF OUR
INVESTMENT ,..
Aside from the payment of our
just and honest debts, the pro-
lection of our investment is a
matter of paramount Importance
| involving eternal vigilance and
expenditure. Many of our best
roads are ageing fast under the
wear and tear of traffic as we'll
as the ever deteriorating influ-
ence of the elements. Every rain
that falls, every wind that blows,
takes bit by bit the surface value
of the road.
With the construction of the
first 5000 miles of all types of
road, it was considered essential
to have maintenance fund of
! S3,500,000 per annum. Since
then we have added 1900 miles
of roads. making a total of TO-
800 miles on our primary system.
The legislature of 1888 allocated
for the maintenance of this
greatel mileage only $4,000, 900
less by 100000 than was con-
sidered essential for the MAIN
tenance of 5000. This was below
the danger point, as We now find
many of our more costly types of
road going backward in surface
values. Like tooth, if the cav
ity is not filled quickly, the tooth
must go. The danger of a ter
rifle loss is imminent.
For the county highways the
1888 legislature allocated $4,-
100000, which is $4,400,000 less
than the counties spent. A spe-
cial effort has been made to keep
in order the roads travelled by
school buses mail routes, etc.
There exists today, however. on
this system many bridges which
are not safe for these BUSES. An
increase in this fund or else
tragedy!
ESSENTIAL NEEDS
For maintenance of both state
and county systems, safety de-
vices, for extraordinary emery
encies such as storms, floods,
mountain slides, etc, and for alb
sorbing additional cost of unus-
able prisoners; and maintenance
of city streets over which state
highways are routed there should
be a minimum fund of S10,00O,-
900 per year.
For debt service, $9,000,0OO.
The largest income yet receiv-
ed from tags and gas in S20,-
100000. Taking from this the
two essentials of debt service
and maintenance ($19,00O,0OO)
leaves only $1,500,00O to meet
the cost of new construction and
to meet federal aid. 1t will
doubtless require 100000 to
match federal aid or else lose
portion of it
NEW CONSTRUCTION NOW
DEMANDED,
On the state system alone re-
quests are now in hand for the
\ JACKSON II