The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-20
BETTER WORK FOR
C.0u N TRY ROADS
This the Slogan Of Vir-
ginia Enthusiasts, Who
Know State S Worth.
IMPROVED ROADS
THE VIRGINIA CRY
All Industrial, All Agricultural
and All Farming Interests
Recognize That Good Roads
Is the Foundation of Sue
cess Virginia Will
Have Good Roads.
by FRANK S. wOODseN,
Industrial Editor.

Industrial Editor.
The burning question in Virginia:
What is 1t? Well, the politician has
his views on the subject, the anti
prohibitionist has his, the Anti
Saloon Lacquer, of course, has a DIFF
fercnt view, and Various doctrinaires
differ from all of them just according
to the kind of hobby he. she or it may
ride but the independent traveller who
goes through the state in search OF
information that is information.
whether he goes by rail, by private
conveyance. on an automobile, on
horseback or even IL he walks or
travels by any old method. except by
riding hobby" and mixes to any
extent with the people Of the rural
regions, will necessarily reach the con.
clusion that the question uppermost
in the minds OF the good people OF the
Old Dominion to-day Is good roads;
permanent roads. That's the question.
The People Have Been Thinking.
Tho average ruralite has found out
that many of the problems he has been
valnly wrestling with. many OF the re-
forms and changes he has been pray
ing for and many of lue blessings he
has been looking for must needs fol-
low In the wake Of good roads, and
can't In the nature OF the case, coma
ahead of permanent highways. These
slow-going and painstaking ruralttes,
who have been doing a sight of think
ing, have about reached decision to
the effect that ~ clamorinS for bet
ter agriculture. better schools. better
church and religious facilities, better
Inducements to keep the country boys
on the farm and all that kind OF thing.
| they have been. for 10 t..ese many
years. putting the cart before the
horse. or, in other words, In agttattns
FOR all of these good things they com
menced at the wrong end of the string.
The slogan Is now getting 10 pc seeN
e We first good roads, and all these
things will be ADDED unto you.
Give the rural.+regions good roads
and the -churchcs and the schoolhouscs
and the libraries and the telephones
and the social attractions and al the
other blessings will follow, ana tHeI'
the country boy will not want
leave home. for he will find right at
home all Of the blessings he mas heIe
tofore been denied and has been toiu
esist and arc obtainable for the ashinS
In more favored country sectlohs anu
in the cities and towns.
indeed, good roads is the purhlhs
= question in Virginia TO-DAY, a.u
be to the legislator who casts Sose
at this session of the General AZ,
sembly that may in any way re.aia
the permanent highway movement.
\ What Object Lessons Do.
b II have mixed with the people IN the
rural sections of Virginia not2a llt,lF.
and begin to think I know somewhat
of their views. and am persuaiaed
! that have correctly expressed theill
J above. The evidence of this fact may
he found in some interesting fisurcs.
Tho report of p. st. Julian wilson,
State Highway Commissioner, has at
last gotten out of the hands OF the
printer, and 1t furnishes some very
" entertaining data. even II IT does close
y thu story as of tOctC Der last.
~ The Highway Commissioner says:
. During the year 1909 the growth OF
the movement for good roads in Vir-
GINA has been steady and conserva-
tive and I believe that the interest,"
1, awakened by the work done under tho
:. state aid laws will be of benefit to
~ the state far beyond that derived from.
- the actual mileage of roads construct
- ed. This is evidenced by the fact that
~ wherever few miles OF road nave
! been constructed the sentiment of the
Ut community in favor of road improve
" ment has been much increased. In
=, several instances large lnajoritles for
IS bond issues have been the direct re-
rs snlts of a few miles of road con-
10 structed in a county.
d. That is it. An object lesson tells.
RS I happcn to know Of one county super
no visor in tho state VINO USED all OF VIZ
s. money appropriated from the county
ed levy for his district on one mile OF
road. There was wailing and crashing
of teeth and all kinds OF bad things
were said about him IN other parts
OF the district, but he had Just money
tn enough to make one mile OF perlec.
af road. and he thought it better to spend
ull tha money that way than to waste
ell IN in patches that could do no per-
lst manent good over many miles or bad
lid road He made a mile OF pertect anu
ne permanent road, and it has served as
nj, an object lesson that has converted
lie the whole county to the good ROADS
Id movement. The time Is no, ata' .. u,s,
al tant when that county will nave Eoou
or roads in every direction, ana there
"a viii he very little trouble in raising
IS the money to pay for them.
Much Good Work Done.
=, Here are some figures the commits
sioner gives:
"Ten OF the one hundred counties
made no application for tho state
aid for 1900 in any form. TwcntN-twa
. counties elected to use this aid tor
"a bridges instead of roa-,- Sixteen conn-
l. ties have had the benefit Of the CON
j. vict road force. Road construction nus
4 been completed or is under way IN
~ forty counties, Road work viii be
ia begun in the near future In eight
n counties. Eight other counties have
ri been prevented from starting CONSTITUTE
ton BY their inability to secure con-
Ia tracts or proper equipment 10 do the
,r work, and expect to take up the work
Of in tho early spring In connectloit Win
1g the 1910 work. Most OF the remaining
"a twelve counties viii pursue the same
-. course, as their superintendent OF the
% 1909 fund Is too small an amoant ~
at do effective work with
ia The commissioners report closed az
m of September 80 last. A great deal
a. OF good road work was done In the
-