The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-18
NETTING MORE /,
ABOUT G0ODROADS.
South Can Build Roads Cheaper
Than Other Parts Of the
Country.
GOOD WORK BEING DONE.
Optimistic Views Of Expert.
Meetings to BE Held All
Over Virginia.
GOOD WORK BEING DONE.

That not less than $4,000 miles OF
ROAD were improved throughout the
South In the short period from 1904
10 1903 was asserted by Logan Waller
Page, director of the United States
ohice of Public Roads. In an Interest
ing address before the National Good
Roads Association at the convention
recently held At Birming CHAM.
The additional miles OF road that
have been improved make a total OF
improved mileage of i2.2S0. or 6.67 per
cent OF all roads in the South f
In view OF the enlarged interest now
being taken in permanent road ma king
In Virginia. and in view of the fact
that within the next six weeks or two
months good roads meetings will be
held in dozens of counties, 1t may be
well enough and somewhat encourage
Ing to reproduce at this time some Of
Mr.. Pages remarks and figures
Grenter Progress for Future.
1T will be seen" said Mr.. Page,
that during the brief period OF Ave
years the South has increased the
mileage of Its improved roads by. prac-
tically 100 per cent. and this during
what might be termed transition
period In the administration OF its road
Affairs.
One of the patent results OF these
reforms. and one which gives promise
OF great progress in the future IS
the interest and enthusiasm which has
been aroused In the subject Of road i'm
provement In the South. That this en-
thusiasm Is of a substantial chara cter
Is evidenced by the fact that more
funds have been raised by taxation anu
bond Issues for expenditure during
1911 than ever before. il.f
'At the present date there is avail
able for expenditure throughout the
sixteen Southern States, the sum OF
S4O,652,0do. or $50 per mile. which is
practically double the expenditure OF
1905. There will be, however. other
large funds available during the year,
as many counties are agitating, anu
Will. no doubt, vote large bond issues
for road Improvement 1t is further
shown tina I the South Is keeping pace
with other. sections of the country. in
the matter of road Improvement by the
fact that practically one. third OF all
funds available for expenditure on
roads during 1911 are available in the
sixteen Southern States while in 1904
practically four times as much as was
expended in the South.
Peculiar Southern Conditions.
Conditions In the South require road
Improvement more urgently than in
any other section of the country, for
the reason that the roads are subject
ed to more continuous heavy traffic
during the winter months. and. ms they
are nearly always wet at this season,
they cut up very badly and become al
most impossible. In order to have
good, hard roads during this perl cd 1t
is necessary that they be properly
graded. drained and surfaced & In the
North conditions are different. There
the roads are partially protected with
Ice and snow most of the time during
the winter; months. which affords "a
good. smooth surface over which 5traf-
hc may pass. s3l # {, "A 55;sy.s r.
ITO OFFSET this advantage, however,
the roads of the South can be;9i Inn
proved more chehply than those Of the
North. In the South labor is cheaper,
and convict labor can be utilized and
the road building season is longer:
Also. a cheaper type OF road, ip I most
cases can be built in the South, as
Continued on Third Page.) 3 g2..7S