The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-21
Many Delegates Attending the
Convention Here.
MANY FINE ADDRESSES MADE.
senator Daniel Speaks To>Day-colone
Mics, Permanent chairman. Called Away.
cslouel Buford His successor-Mant
Legislative cooperation.

in the assembly hall of the Chamber OF
Commerce, promise to mark the iauncning
of movement for the Improvement OIL
the highways in Virginia, which VIII re-
suit in the passage OF good road laws py
the LEGISLATURE, and the permanent or
canfza1ion OF a State Good Roads Assoc
ciation.
The attendance has passed all eSpccta-
ton When The body WAS called 10 ..
yesterday morning, the hall was ntieo
with Delegates from every part OF the
State. The convention means business
and while yesterday was given more 70
hearing addresses from prominent Vit-
.,inians and rep, esentatircs at the Nation
al Good Roads Association, TO-DAY VII
bring moro practical results, IT TIE MOI
of the committees, which Will meet tnlS
morning between 10 and IL O'Clock III the
hall
WILL ORGANIZE TODAY.
At this mornings session, which VIII
open at II O'Clock, the body VIII get
dow. to the work OF organizing a STATE
Association. The following committees
have charge OF the work:
Committee on Resolutions-H. w. An
derson Richmond (chsirman). w. I, Jor-
dan. Halifax: Il A Latane, Botetourt;
Edward r. Baird. Essex; Richard Lewis,
Culpeper; S. l.. Lupton. Frederick; w.
81. Hubbard. Prince Edward: N. 3. No
land, Hanover; ]. Z. Rose, Henrco. and
l.. T. Ames Nansernond.
Committee on Organization. A Cary,
1denrico (chairlnan): w. A. Land, Motto
+ way: Q. II. Funston, Richmond; Norvell
L. Hralcy williamsburg, and E. t. Du-
pey, Prince Edward.
It is the desire of the convention that
the members Of the Constitutional c. n
MENTION and the Legislature take part
in its deliberations, and that this wish
may be communicated to these bodies the
following committee of three was ap-
ppointed to appear before them this
morning and extend the invitation:
Messrs. w. H. Darlington. Of Halifax;
". NJ Cary. of Charlotte and Q. II. Fun
6ten, of Richmond.
ne tp Z essiar.
The opening session Of the convention
was called to order at 10 o'clock yester-
day morning by Mr.. II. L. Cabell, presi-
dent of the Chamber of Commerce. AT
ter brief address of welcona, Mr.. Cabell
nominated Colonel George ". Miles, OF
Radford, as permanent chairman, ana
MIR. r. A Dunlap as permanent secre-
tary. Their election was unanimous.
In accepting the position Colonel Miles
delivered a splendid address along the
line of the good roads question. AT the
outset he raised n laugh by declaring
he believed the convention had selected
him for its chairman because it believed
the neighborhood from which he came
was more than any other in need of Soou
roads work. He referred to the noble
section from which he came, that section
with its impossible highways, its crazy
Gorges, its unbridged streams, and Its
other attractive features Continuing
Colonel Miles declared that the goou
roads movement was a practical matter
and should be dealt with in a practical
way. In his opinion a propaganda for
the education of the people should be con-
Quoted. The Indifference to good high
ways, Colonel Miles said, is trait of
the Angio-Saxon people. and in this re-
epect the Virginians are the most Anglo
Saxon people In the world. The bill in
the Legislature for Good Roads Com
mission was only. starting point, said
Mr.. Miles. Further steps must be taken.
Plans and methods must be known; there
must be some universal, simple inexor-
nble law for the Condemnation of roads.
Moreover. the farmers should tbe taxed
for having good roads.
The State, continued Colonel Miles,
should issue 5000, 900 in per cent. bonds,
giving $150.0O0 annually for good roads
The large part of the interest on these
bonds would be paid by the railroads and
the cities in taxes. The farmers would
not have to pay one-half of the amount,
yet they would be more benefited than
any one else. lie pleaded for the more
intelligent expenditure of the 100000 now
used for good roads. Colonel Miles
closed by appealing for goods roads on
behalf of the hearts of the burden which
have to travel over The present impassi-
bile highways: on behalf of the farmers
and The cities, and on behalf of the wo-
men OF Virginia who are shut off from
outside intercourse, as a result Of the
impossible roadwass.
THE GOVERNOR INTRODUCED.
As Colonel Miles closed Governor
Montague. was introduced amid a round
4 of applause. Opening his address he spoke
OF the permanent improvements OF roads.
second in Importance TO the peopla of
Virginia only to the question of educa-
ton Public sentiment. he said,
is back of all legislation, State
and National, and the road uues-
ZION could not be settled Satisfactorily I'M
less this sentiment is aroused. With this
sentiment behind it the workers in the
ranks of the good roads movement could
force favorable legislation. Money. the
Governor said, Is not the only thing nee
essaIy to secure good roads. OF course,
there is necessary concomitant, yet he
believed that the expenditure of 5000 90
4 or 10000, 600 would be useless unless there
would be some intelligent supervision or
the expenditure About $4,000 is spent
now and yet the result is not seen For
this reason he hoped Virginia would do
What North Carolina has done and ap-
point a Highway Engineer. a capable man,
whose work would be to make an intel
ligent and scientific expenditure Of the
money placed at his disposal.
The Governor declared that some ,,eo,a..
would say that IL favoring the, appoint
ment of such a Highway Engineer. TIE
Executive .:;is anxious to secure patl.n
age. that he had some friend he wanted
to put in this position. So far as that
was concerned. the Governor stated en-
phatically that, II they wanted to do so.
the people of Virginia could place the
appointments in the hands of the college
professors Of the State, or in some othe.
place. AS the Governor of the Common
wealth. he would place but one limitation
on tho appointment-the Engineer must
not be politician and he must have no
aspirations IN that direction, He musl
be an intelligent man. capable of handling
the good roads movement IN manner