Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1908-01-11
7. P 4. WILL WAGE
WAR FOR GOOD ROADS
Board of Directors Of the Associa-
ton Adopts Resolutions Calling
on the Legislature to Enact
Necessary Laws TO Improve
State Highways

RICHMOND. VA-spe
The board OF Directors OF tho Nir-
ginia Travellers Protective ASsocia-
ton. represcnung nearly 2.5o0 travel
ing men. Wholesalers and manuftc-
turers. decided Saturday night 60 wage
"a fight FOR good roads in Virginia.
WITH complaints from over 600 mon.
who travel every county in the state.
In reference 90 che roads. and after
three hours discussion with ~unerin-
tendent Morgan. of the peniteuuary.
Captain u. 81 = Wilson. Highway
Commissioner. and MT W ~ Rufin
~ DalNille. the originator OF the good
road movement in tho state. and who
drafted the bin passed by the last
Legislature creating the State fiIgh-
way Commission and state convict
road force. and who IS one 90 the
best posted men on the subject in the
state today the board adopted the
following resolutions.
That this association request
the legislative Committee 20
prepare good roads btl ana pre-
sent 20 20 the various posts OF the
State Tor their cooperation. then
present 10 % the Legislature. and
the committee be instructed 20
employ necessary assistance in
framing tho bin and % secure It's
passage before the Leglalature.
The said bill 20 be known as the
n. L. a. good roads bin"
The following directors and officers
were present. T. =. Beckwith. Pc
tersDurS. j. >. klnG. Norfolk Il. r.
BRrSsdale. Portsmouth. D. r. sale.
Lynchburg. J. -. Boacwright. Dan
Vile j. Y. Williams and A -. Brock
EFT. Alexandria. Il. j. Semple Mar
unsvile. r s. Crump =. II. CLOVES.
r u. Ouarles. George W. Rogers r.
s. Christian. George Gibson and a
number OF members OF Post A.
Mr.. =. r. B2rksdale. OF Portsmouth.
chairman OF the II. II. \. Good Roads
and Public Utilities Committee. was
the first speaker. After reading let
ter from tho GOvcrnor. who stated
that ho regretted he was unable 20 be
present. owing 90 "a previous engage
meut. but was thoroughly ina accord
with the good road movement and
in his message 20 the Legislature
strongly advocated an increase OF the
good roads appropriation, and a let
ter from Delegate y. w. Withers. Of
SUFFOLK enclosing "a bin he would Of
FER in the Legislature. and the gist OF
two other bills ne would present on
good roads. Mr.. Barksdale said:
"Geutiemeu. at your request. I for
warded circular letter 10 every mem
Der ga the state. asking him 20 tell
the condition OF the roads he Travelled
in the state. and whether the mer-
chants and the people he personally
came IN contact with We're In favor
judges OF the courts instead or dis
cretionary. 10 sentence Jah biris 20
labor on the roads instead OF a jail
sentence.
q Summing them up. the roads are IN
terrible condition: everybody is IN
favor OF good roads. and everyone Is
In favor OF amending the law nakine
u compulsory upon the judges to SEN
tence jail birds 70 the roads instead
or to idleness. 10 be clothed and fed
az the expense OF the state"
Captain =. T. Morgan. OF the Vir-
sini2 penitentiary. was the next speak
er. and he explained what had beer
accomplished in the way OF permanent
roads during the past year by thu
small force OF cOnvicts and jail bird,
that could be secured for the work
Captain Morgan handled his subjec
we'll having figures. dates. etc, at III.
flngers' end He said that he wa,
heartily in favor OF amending the Law
as quoted above. and said IL should b'
further amended 90 maze the sams
penalty for escaping apply 20 Jail bird
that now applied 10 cOnvicts. As IN,
law stands. Jail bird does not &c
: additional time for escaping. while tn
convict does
Captain Wilson. state Highway Com
missioner. was tbs next speaker.
AIR. W. y. RUM. OF Denville, wa
the last speaker. and he told OF hi
the good roads movement. Mr.. Ruff
I'm was one OF thu original advocate
: OF good roads. especially OF working
convicts and tailoirds. Mr. Rufin toll
. OF the progress Pittsyivania count.
had made IN reference 70 improving
Z her roads. and the hEft he had Ia Sc
curing the passage u the Withers
originator. al the last Legislators.