The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-21

he would have given the matter NOR,
favorable consideration IN the pres
ehcc OF this enthusiastic body than h,
con In the quiet Offices % the eNccutiv.
mansion. For, you know Mr. Martin
concluded with good effect, MIR Taf
mas an election OF his own coming or
soon"
Opening Well Attended.
with an attendance OF 500 delegate,
md visitors comfortably nlnng tn.
large auditorium OF the jefferson, the
'nlusl session OF tn first American
Noad Congress opened auspIciousiy
me decorations, unusually LAVISH be.
cause oil the eNpeStcG presence OF ths
president, were much in evidence or
ali sides, the bunting and banners
fniparung to the scene somethine
of the air OF political convention
Delegates continued to arrive all day
and IL is expected that 500 Will have
registered by noon to-day.
T. The convention opened with prayer
oy Rev, Russell Cecil. u D., ana with
an address OF welcome by Governor
William Hodges Mann He offered the
greetings OF the Commonwealth. and
launchod into an enthusiastic good
Toads speech, winch called forth the
frequent applause oil the DELEGATES.
Anticipating Inconsistency the pro.
posal OF senator Martin later III the
;uuruirg. the Governor suggested that
the Virginia road proble'H might be
met b. putting convIcis to work on
tue roaGs at an estimated cost OF %
seats DAY. de cltc- the example OF
oregon anu Colorado, both CT which
States. ne sal.. maze obtained goo.
results trein similar employment ct
convict labor.
VIII Commend II to Legislature.
WIKI $1,000 miles 81 hlsnway in
Virginia needing Improvement, the
Governor reDinoed his hearers that
the proolom was Dig one. when II
IS considered that it costs S+,5o0 10
construct one mile OF macadain, Si,25Q
.ur one mile d: gravel. ai.d 5000 10!
one mile Il ordinary clay road. He
srld tile delegates That il was !lis
Intention to make certain rec )mnen.
duuons TO the next Legislature, which
meets IN january, wnIcn ne hopes,
VIII result in putting the whole mat
ter OF road construction ON q better
and hrmer basis.
Mayor T. C. Richardson followed
with the official welcome of the city,
and tola OF his special interes; in
the proposed quebec Miami highway.
SID especially that link OF II between
'the capital OF the nation and the
capital oi the Contederacy" Appius
CIaudtus. he told the convention, is
known TO poster!Iy solely because OF
tie great Appian Way. which has sur
ylveO the centuries and is sun as good
as ever. And now YOU candidates for
Immortality" he concluded humorous
~, get busy"
Maintcnancc-Most Important.
The most important subject in con-
necticn With the whole SUBJECT OF road
Improvement is m'a!ntenunce." doclar-
"a Logon Waller Page, president of
the American Association Tor High
WY Improvement, the next speaker Of
the morning. Mir. Page is director OF
tne once of puolic roads OF the United
States Department OF Agriculture and
IS the leading spirit OF the present
Cougress.
The people in many countries are
riied with enthusiasm for road i'm
provement" lie continued. and arc
husten!ng to spend enormous sums OF
money in the construction of superb
roads, and Yet almost without cXcep-
tiun they are making no provision TO
curse Cor the roads after they airs
bGilt. The same holds true with refer
cNce to ROAD construction under many
OF our state highway departments"
AIR. Page said II required u consid-
cradle annual outlay TO keep roads in
good condition. but that this outlay
Was Infinitely less than the loss which
must Ial upon the people eventually
81 they allowed their roads 10 so TO
iuin. Provide continuous, systematic
maintenance and set ASIDE evory year
en amount per mile estimated By the
ens!neer IN charge ne advised, TO
y. sufficient for the proper naintcn-
hnco OF the road, and you VIII follow
course which mus, make for economy
nmd efficiency"
Campaign Needed.
1t Is necessary declared Mr.. Page
that 4 thorough campaign OF educa-
ri0n be conducted in every locality
Where the burden of bad roads hangs
like q milestone about the necks OF
the people. In this campaign OF edu-
cation. three things are essential: First.
1hat your work must have definite
object. second. tnat your plans must
b. practicaole and third, that they
must have ine+tfstG -Elert."
In conc!cF.oE" Director Page laudeo
the loyal ana spirited support glves
ihe movement by the railroad com
pln!es 1T is immaterlal whether
hey are actuated BY wise foresight OF
whether they have the welfare OF the
people along their lines solely at theii
heart he said, The fact remains thai
they are doing WORK which dement's
t'N'- mail NAl4GIl anu ClllC w!tnIu
the zone OF their influence. and fun
credit should be given to them Tor It.
Finley on Good Honda.
President W. W. Finley. OF the
Southern Railway. following Mr.. Page
ntTessed the welfare OF the farmer In
the improved roads movement HIS
interest should be recogu.zet" he
taid. in the formulation OF al! plans
Tor the construction, maintenance and
regulation " the country highway"
The IMPROVEMENT of country roads he
thought would tend to check me
how o. population INTO the cities and
towns, ana acoe!ela,. the movement
back 70 the farm
Mr. Fnley DISTINGUISHED between
tvo general CLASSES Of country nigh
%ays-tnose which mas Ae called
2? "a i5fsssff5ssssSsyssHE5g
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