The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-15
TRADE TALK
OUR MAN-ABOUT-TOWN FOUND
AGAIN ON HIS RAMBtES.

Ii is a chestnut Of which il proposed
10 taik-the old moui3y subject-foads.
The Legislature Of Virginia should be
ashamed Of itself.
For years and years they have tink-
cred on road laws with such feeble
effect. that the hicks had as well not
have been given. Whether IT was in
difference 10 results as far as roadways
were concerned. or an over zeal in poll
tics, will not be considered but true 1t
H.. that the State Of Virginia to-day Is
cursed with roads that would disgrace
the Comanche Indian country.
Year after year the General Assem-
bly, Of the State Incorporates railroads
upon railroads. No one can deny that
railroads are the best Of roads. but the
Legislature overloOks the country roads
that are TO the average farmer and man
ufacturer. in majority of cases, more
important than the railroads.
The Improvement OF roads keeps pace
with the advancement Of the nation, in
numbers and wealth. industry and
science all of which lie a. once an ele-
men, and an evidence.
turai predictions and the commercial
supplies which are the life-blOOd Of the
State. Upon the suthciency Of the ir
number. the prOpriety OF their direc-
tons, and the uuobstfuctiyeness Of
their courses depend the ease and ra-
pidity with which the more distant poT-
tons Of the system receive the nutri-
ment which is essential 10 their life and
vigor, without a cOpiOus supply Of
which the extremitIes must langulsh
and die. But roads belong TO that I'M
appreciated class Of blessings of which
the value and importance are not fully
felt because Of the very greatness Of
their advantages. which are 50 hume
rous as TO have rendered their extent
almost universal and their origin for
gotten.
Suppose a traveller had occasion to 70
from Brunswick Courthouse 10 Peters.
burg, or across the country from
Hanover CourthOuse TO Richmond.
He would become so Disguised that he
would 'nt like 20 venture again on q
country road and so bewNdered that
he would believe the sun rose in the
west and set in the east, and that 1t vas
doe north at midday.
Indirectly. the cities and towns whose
dense populations and manufacturing
industries make them the best markets
for farming produce, are largely de
nendeut on country roads for cOmmu-
nication with the interior regions from
which they draw local supplies and to
which their manufactures are CON
veyed.
The House Of Commons appointed o
committee to report on this question.
and the committee stated that by the
Enforcement Of our roads every branch
of our agricultural. commercial, and
manufacturing industry would be mate
rally benefited. - and that every arti-
Gle brought TO market would be dimin-
isbed in price, MaIhall Wade opened
GOOD roads through the Scottish High
lands and got himself INTO laundering
couplet which ruins.
"Jh' mad YOU only seen these roadr, before
they were made
You would lit up your helits AMI bless Mar
shalt v adc.'
His military road is said TO have done
more for the civilization Of the high.
lands than the preceding efforts of all
the British mOnarch-. In Ireland SINH
lar effects have been introduced, and
the face of the country in many places
completely renovated by good roads.
The Traveller would take the railroad
and hy from place 10 place with ease.
speed, and comfort DIR. johnson used
10 say that life had no greater pleasure
than in being whirled over good road
in post chaise. but more important 10
Nirginans is the consideration that ID
the Absence of good roads many Of our
valuable products waste on the spot oi
their growth. Many Of our rich min
ing districts feel this, the expense oil
transporting metals and ores exceeding
the value Of the product. The differ
ence rs to ease. rapIdity. and economy
Of TRANSPORTATION caused by good roads
il much greater than Is usually imagined
by the farmers. and they are the peo-
ME most yitally concerned. 10 ascend
"a slope that rises hundred feet IN dis
tarc. of two thousand feet. one-twen-
,ieth of the whole load drawn must be
lifted M the entire length Of one hun
dred feet. 4 horse can only draw one
half as much upon such road as be
can upon a level road. a skilfull en-
pineer could make the road level by
going around. instead of over The slope
Even II railroad came TO every
mans door hecould more economically
use good common road
The greatest good TO the greatest
number. ard the most universal bene
its. with the fewest accompanying
evils. will be most oifectually secured
by improving the peoples highways
the public Ioads Of the state.
The Legislature can improve tho
roads.
II ought to be urged that it shall be
done.
Manufacturers. people in trade, ant
mot of all. farmers. demand II. see t'
il that the rapidity, safety and econo'
my Of carnage be the objects OF puOli'
roads. and that goods and passengers
be transported from one place 10 an
other with the least possible expense
and labor. The old system OF working
the roads ia worthless. Men who have
the work in charge are incompetent
This can all be rcmedied. Let Inc
General Assembly pass an act puttint
the conyicts 10 work on the public
roads. let them be placed in charge o.
fkillful engineers land Virginia is fui
of them. e. pecialiy road onglneets)' and
let there be a supervising engineer Il
mass On the work. Then commence al
any point. grade ard repair the road'
us they should be, and silence IN tic
course Of time the just oulcfy against
horrid roads in the State. In Ceyion'
in the cold and sparsely settled regions
of Norway, the roads are better than II
some of the streets OF Richmond.
II is time when this disgrace TO ou'
State should be wiped out. VIII the
Legislature do Ill
When John Murphy came home
from the wars, he did not have a cent
in lhs world. lie lived IN the burnt
district of the capital Of the Confed
eracy, for the perpetuity OF when ne
bore on his person scars and wounds
received in honorable combat. ant
which follow him up TO this day. he
49,. nf.f - u