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


Hon. 10. y. Munford called the convention
20 order at II a. NJ Ia the absence u
nr Joseph Bryan. the president Of the
Good Roads Convention. who IS attend
ing the Episcopal Convention al -l"hea-
polls. the duty OF opening yest'lr"s
gathering fell upon tho shoDl'Di"
MT. Munford one Of the Nice-ii
coyla>oR oF4aEALl.
After a brief prayer by Rev Dr' j.
X Sled3 OF Centenary Methodist CIV. l, ~
Mr. Munfogd introduced Governor ~
rail-. who ia welcoming the "see''0''so
spoke I'm substance as follows.
Mr. Chairman and Genticmen,-it is
very great pleasure 20 meet ana greet
yOu on this occasion. You nav" eo'"e
from thc various sections or fi4|i".'
10 deliberate as TO the best means ~
employed in procuring good roads Il"
going 10 "a strange county. we tfst en-
deavor 90 ascertain how 10 get 'heit' II
there arc two railroads leading 10 our
destination. We are sure 10 Fti'c1 ''o
route which Is the safest quickest ana
most comfortable. il we have 70 tfaF'i
over a highway. we VIII naturally III
Quirc into ifs condition. whether IL IS
rough or smooth hari or soft. whether
there are streams 90 be crossed that are
bridscd If the highway is rough, with
steep grades and deep streams 10 fora.
only DO Poo if forced by some important
duty or surrounding circumstances
ON the other hand. ii the ROAD is
pleasant. so that we can move along with
rapidity and safety. We so on our journey
without hesitation. II we go into the
market 60 purchase "a farm. ws are sure
10 ask the question, how We may get
there II the road * bad and rough
tho charm al once leaves as and we want
20 hear no more about buying such
farm. There is nothing That more distin-
cuisines us from the saNagcS than our
road-ways The former had paths, while
we have our highways. Show me a.
section Of The country where tho roads
are bad and / VIII point out 10 YOU a
stagnant community. The degree Of
perfection 20 which public roads are
carried. corresponds with the progress
and prosperity Of tnat section Of the
country with only one exception. the
mining countries. whore the railroads
carry off the products Of the mines direct
ly 70 their destination.
rLtAssD WIN IN INTEREST SHOWN.
a year ago I had the pleasure in adj
dressing a large gathering 40 the OPEN
ing Of the state Fair 10 allude 10 the
importance Of having good roads. and |
am more than pleased TO see the general
interest treated since then So securing
good roads in the various sections Of the
Stetc. 1 hope that YOU may be success
ful during The deliberations Of this cone
Nenton IN agreeing upon practical
measure 20 be submitted 10 the Legisla-
ture at IT'S next session.
The Governors address was greeted
win applause, and, ON motion OF state
Senator LeCato Of Accomac county,
vote Of thanks was passed 10y the con-
NcntiOn for the Governor able remarks
on motion Of Senator Hurt Of Pitt
sylvania county - was decided that the
Chair appoint COMMITTEES on Credentials
and Permanent Organization. The Char
made the following appointments.
Committee on redendals-Messrs. John
J.. Hurt il vs.. Anderson. John Cussons,
!. ". Wingatc. and -. T L9ssiter.
Committee on Credentials-Messrs. John
tlon-Mossrs W. h. Grant Julian RGfin,
j.. O. Humphreys G.. j.. Ashburner and
George LeCatO.
While The committees retired 10 dis
pose Of its work Alr. Munford delivered
highly interesting address on Road I'M
prOvemcnt iu Virginia, tire state Asso-
citation" which pleased the nv.nIou
L. such an extent chat ~ was lecil % 10
have nve thousand copies OF he address
print ri in pamphlet form iOf general ois-
iribution. Mr.. Aiunfogd spoke as fol-
lows:
MR. MUNronD's ABIE ADDnrss.
Gentlemen Of the COW This
convention has been brought together
under the auspices OF The Good-RDads
Association, and. I'm the abs -1ce OF iis
president. / have been requested TO give
some account of its work durl lg the past
yspr. ana 20 speak word in behalf Of
road Improvement iu Virginia.
Less than year ago there assembled
IN this Aall a convention composed a
representatives from every se'uoa oi our
State. whose object was 90 Iiuslrate a
movement for The improvement OF inc
highways of Virginia AS result n
that meeting the Virginia stale Good
objects OF this as-oti1Non were 10 secure
information as 10 Tine present laws I'M
force iu Virginia, the amounts annually
expended for the imprDVem mt OF our
used in efectrg such improvements;
the results attained. and to arouse public
sentiment % The Importance OF the sub
Ject
flfd to a president. a FIRST wee president
and an additional Vica-urcsident from
each congressional district, who together
with a permanent secretary ana treas
urcr, constitute the general board. Upon
this latter officer. Mr. H. ". Anderson,
has devOivel large share OF the wofk
Of this board. and 10 is blt simple JUS
tice 10 say that he has performed his
duties with singular. fidelity ard success
AS q result of the efforts OF TINS orsani-
zation. and tho Investigations set on foot
from It's Influence. q large amount or
some OF which desire 10 present for The
consideration of this body
rnefNr NEsD or ErriIus.
The labors Of THIS association were not
necessary 90 demonstrate The fact that
the public highways or virginia were IN
nrgert need of repairs. Ilal TACT was
suscept!ble OF ocular demonstration IN
almost any county OF The Commonwealth.
IL has rather devoted It's EFFORTS 10
clear ascertainment OF the laws ana
methods under which thia 4cplorobie con
dition has been brought about. ana 10
suggest method for its remedy.
And first. 10 has been ascerta.nel that
rwo-thlrds Of the counties in Virginia
are to-day under the operation of sepa-
rate road laws-;hat IS. Of laws having
different provisions Tor each county With
our any reference 20 any general ana
Harmonious system obtaining through the
state. ana carried forward with the Siew
OF so conducting each year operations
as 90 finally procure a trst-class roac.
DO has been also asccrtaiped tNat since
1g0-rhe date OF our now COns.tutloi-sp
unsatisfactory have these special road
laws proven that. Including me amend
Tnents thereto there have been no less
than 80 enactments passed ny the Cen
eral Assembly. thus proclaiming ihe DIS
satisfaction OF The people Win tnc-f pro-
visions while their ineiiicicncy rs demon
stratei by the present condition OF our
roads.
Great cifhculty mas been experienced in
aHcerf aiming tho amount annually eN-
pended IN virginia for maintaining htr
public highway. From only htfy-iwO OF
The one hundred counties could oihcial
data on This po.nt be secured. These
INK. of from ID fifty