The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-11


great railroads that span the continent
aud ia ike manner IL can contribute 10
the construction OF public highways, OK
equal importance almost 10 the people.
Contributions from the FEDERAL GOV
eminent may not be expected. except as
the result OF years OF agitation. but that
II can be eventually secured TO the states.
either on the basis OF road mileage or
distribution pro rata on the basis OF state
and county expenditure. 20 as 10 encOur-
age the latter, | do believe The SpicndiI
system Of good roads which are 10 De
foucd IA France, fnGlenl. am oti,r
countries or the Old world, nave oily
been securcd by the generous Aeip OF the
National Treasury.
toned taxation. inteiligentiy expended sy
competent officials. whose efforts would
be directed not 10 a simple repair Tor me
present. but 10 the eventual procurement
OF rrst-class roads, with the use OF M
proved machinery. thus Will IN time come
10 the State a system Of highways which
VIII be OF inestimablc convenience and
nroht TO our people. AnG 80 IN tlea ~
the great blessings TO be obtained, i
commend this cause 20 the sympathy
and support OF every well-wlsher OF our
| beloved Commonwealth.
The Committee on Permanent Organiza-
/ ton, through its chairman. Nr. W. =.
Grant then submitted list Of the fol-
( l9wins permanent officers, which were
Presiden;-Orrls a. Browne Of North
yice,,Presidents-Major James II. Doc
/ icy. OF Hcnrico county; !. H. Wingate.
OF Roanoke ). +. Booker. OF Nansc-
mond: Judge Galloway Brown. OF Bed
! ford; Samuel Farrer Of Augusta.
mond.
Assistant secretaries-rhe representa-
tlVcs Of the press.
"a '4" IfrsfT loAD LAW.
G,aptain Browne. ia accepting the chair.
compliment paid him by ms election.
/ ana called on Hon. T.. c. Harrison. ~
! Rev Jersey, secretary Of tho New Jersey
l.oau InpIOYemf M Association. who
/ spoke on - he Principles and Operation
| or the New Jersey Road Law"
air. Harrison submitted HIS experience
! ~ on informal and conversational man
ncr' ara furnished great deal OF ir-
! New Jersey greater difficulties had 10 be-
[ overcome than I'm Virginia. i'm tuc latter
/ state the road question being iu the hands
/ OF the county authorities. while I'm New
+ Jersey tho local road laws originated from
! town meetings. Ehe progress in his State
/ was slow. The people had % be edu-
| Gated first. and the county system had
/ 20 be adopted. The law which was finally
+ passed was suggested by the farmers. and
| under IL the state appropriated the sum
| OF $1,000 annually Tor the Improvement
| Of public roads ana OF this amount one
/ third Of the actual expenses Is furnished
/
| merits.
Tho speaker explained that the new
! law directs the county authorize 10 See
/ lcct roads in their territories which arc
} TO b" called county roads thereafter, and
/ which. according 10 the provisions OF
| the Jaw. were TO De Improved by the
! county authorities. IL appeared. however.
/ that the law IN that form did not operate
/ well FOR not q single county ayaicd itself
! Of the opportunity Of Improving IT'S roads.
! Then tho law was amended so as TO make
| road improvements mandatory on coHn-
/ IS authorities when they We're DctitiOrcd
| for by two-thirds OF the abutting proper
] ty-Owners, the latter Oblieating them
! selves 10 pay 10 per cent. OF the cost, 10
! be assessed on their properly. Even then
| the law was fought IN each county by its
| board Of freeholders. and mandamus pro-
! ceedinzs had % be instituted. but the
| Court sustained the law. and at present
! everybody seems 10 have changed MS
! mind ard is anxious 10 have the improve
| mcnts made. and both political parties arc
! demanding Of their candidates for legis-
| lative hOnOrs TO pledge tnemse.Ves that
they VIII not vote for a repeal or t.at
/ law The latter is now sustained IN New
| Jersey by a good-roads association similar
10 the one I'm existence in Virginia.
ROAD ccMNIssIoNtn.
Under the New Jersey road law a paid
! road commissioner is appointed. who Is
| to superntend all road improvements
| bat during the first two years after the
| enactment of this law the Conn-ssloiief
! of Agriculture rendered these services free
~ cSarge' An work in the line of inn
| proving tho public roads mas 20 ne APP
/ proved by the commissioner before u can
/ he executed. An engineer appointed ior
| that puroosc makes "A survey of the Work
| deemed necessary and furnishes an esti-
| mate Of the costs. WherenpOn IN. WORE Us
! given out by contract. 4 supcfhlehl'ii t
| has TO watch the progress OF tne VIC,
| daily. end when completed IL must re
! approved by the engineer before IL IS palu
| for by the county.
! In some counties the expenses have been
! secured by the raising Of taEcs. wh'le. ~
/ others bonds have been issued, Wnicn
! we're finally paid for by the increase q
! the valuation Of the property All me
/ public roads are of stone, ana I'D tne
! southern part OF the state. when ls
! sandy. stone had 20 Doe INTRODUCED RON
| tle North hut SIS transportaNon uF f.li-
| roo1 ofa re about onc-thiri or the entire
| cost OF building the road. IN hunalus
| +be road two systems are carried OUT, lhe
| Toiford and Macadam systems. a.
| former Is used especially in sahDf s1ii'
! here large stones are placed on me hp,
| ION, while the surface is filled ln N-iH
| froLen stone. Tho Aiacaiam system proc
vides only for the use oi ni'A,. .',.f
| 4 very important factor SD WalNld.i!li's
| ,,,l4 roads Is the use OF wide wagon Iiftr
! and in some sections the tafArf- ~" ID
| ere4t advantage tires four inches Woe
| which largely prevent tnc .-..t.- 49,
! roads In Michigan the use oil Wii- lI.'
| a. f.,-oral 10 ench an extent. ana ny pre-
| ciatad as "a means of keeping 'Nr l'"-f ii
! good repair. that those WHO use
/ fires only receive rebate OF 80 per cent
I on their road tax.
MAJOR DCOlEY's MOTION.
Major james IT, Dooley, OF Henri.co
stated that the bottom ana io.il"' tl'i
of every eIsrt 90 procure lcai hlil
| ments must Doe appropriate Legislation.
.