The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-12
FOR BETTER PUBLIC ROADS.
The Importance Of Improving Them Urged
Before Members Of The Assembly.
BILL FOR THAT PURPOSE EXPLAINED.
Mr.. Bryan President ofthe Good koadsAs-
sociation and Col. Buford Chairman OF
the Committee on Legislation Dis
cuss the subject mt Length.


An interesting meeting was held In the
hall of the House of Delegates yesterday l
afternoon, when, shortly after o'clock, |
the Committees on Counties. Cities, and |
Towns. of the General Assembly. met in |
Joint session to listen TO the members OF |
the Legislative Committee appointed by
the Good-Roads Convention held in this !
city some time ago. The committee had
prepared a general road bill, con-
densed synopsis of which was published
I'm yesterdays Times. In view OF the
fact that the two houses had only ad-
journed their sessions shortly before
o'clock, the attendance Of the members
of the TWO committees was not very large,
hut ouite a number Of them dropped in
during the discussion. In the absence
of Captain George A. Mushbach, Of Alex
andria, chairman of the Senate COM
mitee. the meeting was called TO order
by Mr.. Diggs, of King william, the
chairman of the House Committee.
The following representatives OF tho
/ Good Roads Association were present
MIR. Joseph Bryan. president OF the asso-
| citation: Colonel A. ). Buford, OF klch-
mond. chairman Of the Committee on
Legislation, and Messrs. j. RavehscrVit
/ Jones. OF Brunswick; DR.. Frank ttetchet'
| of Accomac. George j.. Murrell, OF Bed
ford; Charles W. Wilson. OF Norfolk ana
| II. W. Anderson. secretary or mo hsso
! citation. Several other members Oh tne
Committee on Legislation, VINO hao osS"
present At the Exchange Hotel on the
,,revious evening. when the bill was be-
ing completed, were unable 10 appe"i
before the committee. ....
chairman Diggs stated that the golht
session had been called In order 10 hSal
the views Of the committee from eno
Good Roads Convention, who were, anN-
IONS 10 present their bill and eApialn ~
provisions He then requested NoIo'l,, -
Puford. chairman OF the Ooihlili''.o a.
T.oedslation, to take charge OF tne inee'
ing. ...oa that his COM
..,,toa mad agreed upon a general ron"
Ia .oo,aa of which were handed 10 those
o,.', nl,sri lie spoke OF the great need o,
so,,, In the method Of cOnstrnctihs ann
,mnroving the public highways m -
etate one OF the most essential neeus ioi
/ the neople Of the State was 'h' "a,
Of improved highways, ahr an lwD.,l w
-, s,,stematic and economical manage
I Flf af
annointed some time ago py '"o SyV@
,aads convention. had given the supJec'
a. earnest attention and had compieo a
An ,,ith great care, especially thfous''
~ octfyitv Of Mr. Joseph Bryan tn'
Dresidont. and Mr.. H. W. Anderson ~ .
secretary. In framing the OH lne peS, ~.
provisions OF the laws OF otner s,'',' -
| haen made use Of and it was 10 ue hopv"
that the LEGISLATURE would at least con-
; our IN the principles involved, and tha'
the subject be taken up by the TWO com
,,ittees with the spirit and desire 10 do
| something In that direction. II the state
| was to have good roads. some leAlsla'lon
uas necessary TO provide adequate means
: ana hts committee thought that the meas
ure Just submitted was q step ln the
I | ,irbf direction and would save the state
money if It was properly carried out
Z MIR. BRYAN's STATEMENT.
Mr. Joseph Bryan. who was then calie'
,,ro, nv Colonel BufOrd, gave a brie
= statement of the origin OF the Good-Road'
Association. and how the presence al
= this committee was brought about inc
% necessity OF securing some uniform actloi
r in improving the public roads on intelh
. gent lines had started me organization
about two years ago. The railroad com
panies in the state had responded gene
rouslv 10 the call TO assist I'm the move
mcnt. and had furnished the money WIZ
. which the services Of Mr.. Anderson, th'
secretary, had been secured The assls
- tance OF the United States Bureau o
= Roads under General Roy Stone had als'
r bean Of great service. Mr. Bryan the'
4 polnted out some of the details OF the hil
u nreuared by the roads committee. an
called attention 10 the numerous safe
= guards that had been thrown around II
= lie said the bin represented the best fe
suit Of the experience OF other States am
T. even General Stone had pronounced II th
e best bill of its kind which he had eve
seen.
In order To- snow how much intere'
was taken in tits matter by other pee
ple. Nr Bryan mctt )ned the fact, tha
Mr.. Harrison who was the cor
3 sultfng engineer &c the highway con
missioner of Ncw Jersey and secretary q
= th.. Goad-Goads association Of that Stat'
y had extended an H. v'ation 10 the con
mittees OF the Virginia Legislature
| visit New Jersey and inspect It's systei
Of public roads. and General stone ma
expressed his readiness 10 negotiate VII
e the MANAGEMENT Of the Pennsylvdnl
Railroad Company 20 secure free trans
h portation 70 the committees. A Simiia
- offer had heeu made 10 the Legislatu
> OF New York, which expected 10 fran
a bnl similar to the one just submitte
- 20 the Virginia LEGISLATURE, and 1t wa
"a thought that the representative bodi'
Of New York and Virginia should Wis
.- New Jersey at the same time.
l. Mr. Bryan added that he also had a
= offer from the MANAGEMENT OF the Souti
ern Railway Company 70 take the men
hers Of the two committees 20 CharlOtt
y. c.. In order to inspect the improve
r roads i'm Mecklenburg county IN th'
o. state. He thought these trips would
he obiect-lessons. and It would be wise Il
~ the committees 10 undertake them
~ order 10 become better informed on u
subject.
n Secretary Anderson then read the b
es 10 the committees by sections, aft
t. which Mr.. Jones OF Brunswick and NJ
NurrcIl. OF Bedford. briefly spoke on u
y, great necessity Of securing better roads.
~ MIR. Murphy, member OF the Hous
from this city, suggested as an amen
ment to section 70 OF the bill. that neith
the county engineer, nor member
the Board OF Supervisors. nor any 9th
Il. person connected with the manageme
< Of the public roads in any county. shou
IL have right TO appear as a bidder +
20 such work.
~ APPROVED THE AMENDMENT.