Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-11

an exhanst,vc investlgatfon Of the sub
feet prepared and presented to the Legis-
iature lust adjourned Q bill to provide
for the gradual but syNtemauc impluve
ment OF the roads OF virginia, Inls
bin proposed system which wouio nave
been Just. economical. ana enecuvs, Due
II was n departure from past customs
IN this State. and. as result. was al
frst generally misunderstood and met
with considerable opposition. 1t was tno-
roughly discussed before the committees
~ both houses of the Legislature. ex-
pIained TO the members personally, ana
large number OF the members OF the
Legislature were taken 70 New Jersey W
the association, in order that they might
see the great benefits that had resulted
from the operation Of similar law III
that State.
The bin was reported favorably to the
Senate. and remained on Its CALENDAR LOT
three weeks, but all efforts on the part OF
the association to have II acted upon
proved abortive In the face OF the ava
ianche OF private bills. 1t Is one OF the.
evidences of the merit OF this measure
that It's popularity increased as ~ was
better understood, and at the time oi
the adjournment of the Legislature We
had ascertained by actual poll that a
majority of the Senate favored the Dill,
and were assured OF similar majority
in the House II simply failed for iack
az time. and we have good reason 10 Ieei
confident of its passage by the next
General Assembly, to accomplish when
we will preserve our organization anu
make renewed efforts when the uiiie
arrives.
NEED OF INDIVIDUAL EFFORT.
The failure to have obtained heretofore
the needed legislation is mainly que 10
lack of information upon the SUBJECT Oh
the part of our people. and demonstrates
forcibIy the necessity for the Work "nici
the association has undertaken IL WIZ
not be possible, on account OF the iach
az funds, to continue our work as acuVe-
Nv as has been done In the past ten
months but we will continue to advance
the cause of good roads In virginia
Under these circumstances individual Ell
fort on the part of the members anu
friends of the association Is even more
necessary than heretofore. We would
urge you, therefore, to do everything
Won can to keep this matter before your
people Make 1t the subject OF discus
sion at public meetings, discuss II win
friends. secure members to the assocla-
tion. and aid US In any way to crystalline
the sentiment in favor of good ROADS.
The delay in securing good ROAD law
should move the friends or ROAD IMPROVE
ment to greater activity and watcnlul-
ness to see that the road funds TOT the
next two years are expended so as 10
produce some beneficial results. WINE
intelligent legislation upon this subject
Is badly needed, yet II the best citizens
of each community would take an active
interest In this question and see that the
county road funds are properly applied,
even under our present defective laws
great improvement could be made with
the half million dollars now expended
each year upon the roads by the counties
of this State. We would commend this
subject to your earnest consideration and
attention. Yours very truly,
JOSEPH BRYAN, President.
III. w. Anderson, Secretary.