Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-05
BAD ROADS IN VIRGINIA.
Their Wretched Condition and How They
Can he Improved.
To ne Editor Of he Dispatch;

To ne Editor Of he Dispatch;
IL must have occurred to even the dullest
comprehension that the development which
IS now confidently looked for in Virginia
must be held IN very great check unless
Tie means of local intermediate transporta-
ton Is greatly improved. Our railroads
az rapidly coming to the front as frst-class
coltcycrs OF freight and passengers; but
o. very life OF the railroad itself IS bound
up IN the ease with which il can draw its
u.ihc from the surrounding country.
The writer has been informed that on
The line Of new railroad that has been
Recently built in Virginia, although TWEEN
" saw-mllls had been erected on Its course,
yet not one single carload of lumber had
been shipped during the last two. months
on account Of the lmpossibility OF getting
iho lumber from the saw-mlll 10 the rail-
road. Not only, then, does the railroad
Itself suffer from the lack of good feeder
county roads. but the farmers also in this,
!, vel as IN most other cases, have to bear
iLe tu.l weight of the burden. OF course
ths IS Just as bad when a county road Is
Feeder 70 town or between city and
town.
Realizing the enormous loss that farmer
experiences from the want OF good ROADS,
the writer has made careful study OF the
Whole question with q view OF suggesting
20 tue public press some means OF remedy
hs thls great evil and of endeayoring 10
Eocse the people 70 concerted action.
Row 70 RAISE MONEY ROB THEIR IMPROVE
MEST.
10 the beginning the most important
question is that Of raising the money. IL
Z conceded that the State OF Virginia has
ous utile revenue that could be diverted
70 lhe purposes of this improvement, stu
!,'' nave The separate counties, ana, IN
ciei.0ie as II may seem. there are some
Nlo 90 not appreciate the value OF such
Improvement. The writer has known OF
ole case wherein philanthropist was ifa-
proving road entirely AZ his own expense,
nsad.pg as much as $4,000 over three
hues Of lt, in order 70 make IL one OF the
- reads IN the State, yet great obstruc-
sVA was put N bis way by an abutting
ypsrIy.owner on the, plea that y was
.eigflng some few bushels OF hia potatoes
shq few vermont fruit-trees.
WIN such difficulties in the way OF
,aslug the necessary money and with such
uCteal6le folly in the people, the task OF
WI Icing able 70 improve the roads ap-
pas well nigh hopeless. However. the
a ~ and the information collected
"a tbe subject have created such an
saoont Of desirable information that its
.pgad among the whole community may
result IA good hereafter.
tokEioS sysTEMs SHOULD IN CONSULTED.
r IN the first place the systems of France,
germany, and Italy should be consulted
- 70 discover the sfauner IN which such
sAendid roads have been created. There
SIC many interior country roads there
when are a. good il not better than some
ihe macadamized streets OF Richmond.
sue system pursued in Great Britain has
.seui'od IN procuring roads inferior 70
snose on the continent. The systems pur-
great deal worse than that 81 Eneiapd. and
PROBABLY the syststn. OF. better. the lack