The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-21
WILL GO TO new JERSEY.
Joint committee on Counties, Cities and
IOWnS 10 Inspect Reads Of lnat Stale.
A LETTER FROM SECRETARY MORTON.
lie Says He IL Deeply Interested In 'he
Question of Good Roads aud Hopes Nir-
ginia VIII Keep Pace With hef
Sister states-General Roy
stones Views.

The Committees Oh touhtle0s N'''~i
/ and Towns OF the two houses Of the Cen
eral Assembly held a joint session yes
/ teriay afternoon at O'Clock in the hah
/ OF the House of Delegates for the pur-
pcse Of hearing argument on the bill pro-
yiding for the construction, maintenance
i and permanent Improvement of the pno-
lie highways. The bill which has been
published in substance in the columns OF
/ The Times. was tho product Of the legis-
/ iative Committee of the Good-koa0s Con-
yeuflon. held in this city some months
apo. and quite e. number of representa-
/ tites of Che GoOd-R0ad Association were
presont Among them were the following
/ Colonel A. s. BufOrd, chairman oil ine
! committee. Mr. Joseph Bryan, president
/ of tho Good Roads Association, bthtial
/ Roy stone. chief Of tho TOad bureau 'l
! the United States Department oi AHrl-
! culture: Alr h. g. Harrison. secretary oi
! the New Jersey Road improvement AS
! eociation. Major James h. DOoiey, OF
/ Richmond. Mr. j. r. W. Hanckei, Of
! Ivnchburg. Mr.. A. S. Payne. or ROa-
! noke. Major X. 6. Saunders, or camp
/ ban county, and Ar IA. vs.. Anderson,
secretary OF the GoOd-koads Association,
/ Of Virginia.
Senator Mushbach, the chairman OF the
Senate committee. who presided, explain
od the object of the meeting and then
/ asked those present outside of the MEM
/ bers of the General Assembly, who dc-
sired TO do So, TO express their views.
COLONEL BUFORD'S REMARKS.
Colonel A. S. Buford briefly stated how
| the bin had been originated, and eX-
/ pressed the hope that the two committees
| would report the bin fav0rably with
! such amendments as they would deem
! best. lie called attention 20 the necessity
of better roads. which was generally ad-
mitted by an whom he had spoken To on
that subject
we cannot stand this state Of affairs
env longer" continued Colonel Buford
| "lt is a repulsive element 10 every new
I conner into this state. The proposed bll
! cOntemplates the establishment OF pefna-
! neut improvements in that direction by
I parties qualified for and interested IN IT,
/ who will devote their time and labor TO
| that sort OF work. The present manner
OF taking care of the roads Is farcical or,
10 put II mildly, il is not good business
! The bill places the improvement OF the
/ roads I'm the various counties I'm the
/ charge of the respective boards OF SUI
| pcryisOrs. who are TO employ few COM
/ petent officials as overseers VINO also
| have TO work themselves. The nill also
/ fINNfDs iif Olll.t OF highway NFttAlitt'
! sioucr who is TO receive moderate sal
| arv. The effect Of the bin Will De- In
| few years 10 provide much better high
/ ways than We have now. on VIII have
| a new system of Improvement inaugu-
| rated that will make it's own argument
| year by year 10 is more important 10 the
| people of Virginia TO make their high-
| ways useful than whether the boundary
! OF Venezuela shall be on the SchOmhurgk
sI.lf.-f
! sands of people have come here TO share
/ our fortunes. but they have gone again
| beyond the lines because they would not
tolerate such a condition OF affairs AS
a question of economy, as question or
| financial interest. this matter should be
| considered from its very foundation. ]
| therefore ask the committees to consider
the matter and give a report as early as
possible on this measure, and which we
hope viii be favorable
Being questioned by the Chair whether
the proposed bin had been introduced in
either house. Colonel Buford stated that
this had not been the case but that, un-
der a resolution adoptea by the Two
| houses that portion OF the Governor
| message relating 10 the improving Of the
roads had been referred 10 the two com
| mittees. to report by bill or otherwise.
| He also stated. upon "a question by Dir.
| Diggs. that the provision 10 have the
highway commissioner appointed hy the
| Governor was taken from other States,
but any other method Of appointment
! would be satisfactory to the GoOd-Roads
| Association.
EXPERTS PRESENT.
Mr.. Joseph Bryan. president of the Good
| Roads Association. who was the next
| speaker said that besides Mr.. II. W. An
derson the secretary Of the association,
who had made the subject his special
! study. there were some other experts
present TO give their views TO the com
| mittee. There was Mr.. J.. G.. Harrison,
of New Jersey who had come all the way
down from that State for the purpose OF
| explaining the advantages of good roads
as they had been In existence i'm New
Jersey for the past four years General
! Roy Stone. of the United States Depart
menf. IN Washington, who had also
made "a special study OF the matter. had
come 20 lay his experience before the
members. That gentleman had arranged
with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
TO carry the committees and any other
members who desired TO go. 10 Trenton.
in order TO show them the road system Of
New Jersey.
MIR Bryan suggested that the party
leave here next Monday evening az 1.l5
O'Clock. and return on the following Wed
nesday morning, In time for tho session
! inc ilfiiiff0 NNAAN A' ANfAN'N -N"f'NEH
and he thought IL would prove Of benefit
TO the State IL they would 90.
Mr.. IL. ". Anderson then followed
with a very able and highly interesting
argument, giving first the history Of the
Good Roads Association. He pointed out
how important II was for the farmers 10
have the cost Of transportation for their
products reduced 10 d minimum, and how
essential good roads were in that dlrec-
tion. Good roads. he said. did not only
affect the farmers. but also the cities
and therefore, II was not Just 10 have
the farmers bear the entire cost OF i'm
proving the roads. immigration from
other sections Of the country was very
necessary for the proper development of
the State but II certainly could not be
secured without very material improve
nent OF the public roads. lie knew Of
instances where people had come here
from ether states. prepared 10 settle in
| Virginia. and had left within a year, on
account Of the bad condition OF the roads
Since the year 1870 the sum OF $i5.ooo. 400
had been expended In Virginia on the
public roads, one-half Of which. under "a
proper system, would have been sufficient
to macadamize the main roads In every
county OF the State.
! SECRETARY MORTONS LETTER.
Mr. Anderson spoke OF the interest that
Mr. Morton, secretary OF agriculture, had
taken i'm the matter. and that he had sent
| the latter A copy of the proposed bill.