The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-03
Richmond, Louisa and Cor
louisville Asso. Formed
at Conference
GOVERNOR AND MAYOR
LEND THEIR PRESENCE
State Commission of High
ways, Wilson, Shows What
Can be Done and Clti-
zens Pledge Support

Members of the Richmond Automo-
bile Club feel that something has
been accomplished in the direction o;
building a highway between Richmond
and Washington.
They believe mat the first definite
steps nave been taken and by the for.
nation OF q Richmond. Louisa and
Gordonsvflie Highway Association
active work win now 70 forward.
The association was formed at a
conference held In the Richmond
hotel. 1t was attended by prominent
citizens OF Henrico, Louisa n Han
over counties al guests of the Auto
mobile Club. Governor Mann. Mayor
Richardson and STATE COMMISSIONS
OF Highways Captain r. st. Julien
Wilson, lent weight to tho movement
bs their presence.
The only drawback to n grand gen-
erai movement, in the opinion OF all
the speakers, was lack of funds. Gov
,rnor Mann made this especially plain
but the public spirited citizens along
the proposed Gordonsvflle route,
pledged their support and declared they
would aid the cause by private sub
scriptions.
Some OF the speakers dweit on tbs
fact hat automobiles and automobile
owners were none too popular In the
farming district. Hon. BOSWELL Page
sid that reckless riders la made the
roads so dangerous that farmers and
farmers wives were actually afraid to
use them. One of his neighbors had
declared he would rather ride through
mad than have q Dad nat would be
fl %equented by .feeklessly driven auto
mobiles.
Against Reckless Driving.
President Horace Haws expressed
his sympathy ' IN this state OF ar
fairs and declared that 1t was one OF
the cardinal rules of the Richmond
Automobile Club to see the State laws.
especially against reckless driving OK
cars, rigidiy enforced.
With everybody In hearty accord
on this prop sition with a mem
bership OF fifty in the new good roads
association enrolled before adjourn
ment. the conference ended with en-
thusiasm rampant.
A buffet lunch was served before
the guests and their hosts separated.
President Horace Haws, of the
Richmond Automobile Club, opened
the proceedings by calling upon Mayor
Richardson to. welcome the guests.
AAir Ahu Iuh$Df uiu In Ills HAppieSt
vein. He was glad, he said, TO see
the day that the catase of good roads
has q revival. And then he pointed
cut that 1t really was a revival. Many
years ago, he said. Henry Clay, that
great statesman Virginia gave to the
nation. had advocated a great national
highway all the way from Cumber-
land, Md. to st. Louis.
Nj hobby" said the mayor lis
TO see a broad, straight national high
way between Richmond and Washing
ten. II will benefit every city and
county through which IL passes. 1t
will do more. 1t win be a strong
bond between North and South and
show to the country that North and
south are now united in n common
bond.
Il would like to see 1t from senti-
mental as well as material aso
Il would like to see great, broad.
highways radiating from Richmond to
Newport News. Lynchburg and Dan
VILE and / trust In time we win see
them.
Mayor Prophesiess 1853
The aptomahile has done much
Tor the development Of good roads.
1t Will not always remain the vehicle
OF n rich. Farmers in time will
draw their produce 70 market by au-
tomobiles.
"A statistician tells me that in
France n England, where they have
good roads, that the cost per ton Der
mile for hauling IL eight cents. In
the Emitted States n is twenty-six
cents. and in Virginia, where we have
some OF the worst roads in the world.
the cost is forty-seven cents.
We must interest the farmer. We
must instruct him that good roads are
for his interest. The city cannot live
without the country but the country
can exist without the city. we need
good roads to unite city and country,
"IMiu,- It be lawful for me A.
mayor. sign any bill making an appro.
priation for the Improvement Of roads
Mayor Richardson was applauded
warmly n then Mr.. Haws. with q
few complimentary remarks. introduced
Governor William Hodges Mann.
The governor did not make any
promises. He; preferred to ak or
agricultural development and summed
up his speech by saying the prosperity
that would come when farmers would
| grow corn one hundred and sixty six
bushels to the acre.
However. he promised to do what~he
could to employ all the convict labor
possible to build roads when money
was IoftncoEn1n8. his ADDRESS was
rarery m fully OF anecdotes.
Governor Mann Spsaks.
Il do not agree with Mayor Richard
SON." he said, that Virginia roads are
the worst In the world and even IL Il
were proven to mi / would be willing
to maintain that Virginia mind liz bet
ter than other peoples macadam.
Still. ! am glad to see this good
roads movement; once started it never
80 backward.
Il want good roads for h people
who haul their goods to market.
want 70 see them have the good roads
hrst, not the au~tomobilists. But every
body wants them. The question is how
to get them.
Then the governor gave facts and
ngures. The highways appropriation,
he pointed u was y7O,0 900 ana this
| did not 81 far to maintain convict labor
camps Only a dozen camps Were pos-
sfble With just $4,000 available.
money. he said. might be OBJ
tanned later on. especially II the State
WAS sustained by the Supreme Court
Of n United States In its contention
that h Richmond, Fredertcksbure ana
/ Potomac railroad was no longer exempt
from taxation. This he said, would
90.
He then took up economies ana toss-
ed . bouquet at the last Legislature.
p last legislature was wise" saad
uovefn0r Mann
That's ths first time I've heard you