The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-23

Much interest in good roads for the
District Of Columbia and outlying por-
lions Of Maryland and Virginia near the
city developed at a meeting yesterday OF
the Good Roads Association Of the Dis
trict. held at the New Willard
The meeting was called by Clarence
Moore, president OF the association. for
the purpose Of bringing out general
discussion of the subject. with a view
to giving the recently appointed execu-
tive committee OF the body something
concrete TO work upon. Mr. Moore had
sent invitations to several prominent citi-
zens Of nearby Maryland and Virginia.
some Of whom were present at the
meeting.
The subject Of the improvement OF
good roads in the District. some Of which
are not brought UP TO the high state Of
development desirable, was gone into.
and then matters vent far aheld in the
way OF suggestion concerning the i'm
provement OF some OF the principal hign-
ways out OF Washington into the neigh
boring States. The meeting took no def
mite action. but the views Of the several
speakers clustered about the idea that
the great thoroughfares leading out OF
Washington should be improved by the
States as soon as practicable, so as TO
connect with the good highways In the
city and make continuous travel over
them easy and pleasurable.
Chamber May Cooperate.
William F. GUIDE, representing the
Chamber OF Commerce, said that the
Chamber took an interest in the develop
ment Of highways. and would. he thought.
indorse any practicable proposition for
general road Improvement. and would CO.
operate with the association in helping
the cause along
DR.. Joseph Taber Johnson spoke partio-
ularly about lack OF good roads In Alex
andria County, He thought the District
should make its roads hard and smooth
to the Aqueduct and Chain bridges. so
that the increasing travel over these
ways could be always easy. Then he
thought Westinghouse should give
every possible aid 70 the improvements
Of the roads leading out from these
bridges into Alexandria County. He said
many OF the summer jewellers out there
are IN reality WashingtOnians, and Dr.
Johnson hoped some concerted effort
might be made which would result In
the kind OF highways needed IN that
county.
DR.. Detwiler spoke in similar vein
about the ways leading out OF Wash
ington. particularly some route from the
Highway Bridge into Upper Virginia. He
suggested a route 20 Fairfax Court
House. thence 10 Herndon. on to Lees
burg. and finally over through one OF
the mountain gaps into the Valley OF
Virginia. Or. Detwiler thought the peo-
pie OF Washington should be interested
in the development Of such State road
10 the Valley. and should cooperate with
Virginlans in getting IT,
Wants Government 10 Help.
A. D. Brockett. OF Alexandria. spoke
OF the need OF highway Improvement be-
tween his city and Washington. He told
OF a plan TO be worked out by the Road
Association Of Alexandria County. where
by the United States government should
by appropriation provide for the improve
ment OF the highways through the prop
erty il owns on the Virginia side OF the
river, particularly through the lands OF
the experiment farms, between. the High
way Bridge and Roslyn. He thought
that II the government would build a
good road there. which might serve as
an object lesson 70 the rest OF the county,
and 10 Virginiaus as a whole. great
object would be gained
Mr.. Brockett said much interest was
being developed all over the State OF
Virginia in good roads. He said almost
every county had voted bonds 70 start
the Improvement. and he thought that
in few years HIS State would present
a far better appearance, as far as Sood
roads are concerned
Experience in Virginia.
Mr.. Brockett said that few years ago
/ publc-spirited men OF his State had
great difficulty IN getting the legislature
to pass an appropriation Of SIS O0 to start
the State road commission. Since then
the education Of the citizens had formed
public opinion upon the subject that
is well nigh Irresistible, and he said II
had been found less difficult TO get an
] appropriation Of $4,000 through the last
! legislature than it had been TO get the
| first S25, 600. Mr.. Brockett declared that
| Virginia would, within a few years, ap-
propriate 100000 for the general I'M
| provement OF highways in the Common
wealth.
The officers Of the Good Roads Asso-
citation Of the District are: Clarence
Moore president; r. n. Harper. r. H.
| Lynn. and J. @. Hopkins, vice presidents;
] Ben HELEN, secretary; W. B. Hibbs,
I treasurer, and Ashley NJ. Gould, Gist
Blair. w. c. Eustis, W. B. Hibbs, and
! Ira c. Bennett executive committee.