The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-27
ATLANTA FAILS TO
LAND CONVENTION
Willing to Pay IS, ooOto Take
Highway Gathering from
Richmond
AGENT TALKS WITH
PATHFlNDING PARTY
President Wood of Chamber
of Commerce Heads Off
Attempted Grab by
Georgia City

President Henry Wood. of the
Chamber of Commerce, has taken
active steps to prepare for the con-
vention of the American Association
Tor Highway Improvement. which will
be held in Richmond October 80, 81
and November J. inclusive
President Wood felt that he needed
to take active steps for Richmond
came very near losing the convention
at the very last moment, although
the Association for Highway Improve
u1ent had, long since. voted to hold
its first annual meeting here and the
Touring Club OF America had indors-
cd the proposition.
The need of ACTIVITY on the part of
President Wood arose when the
9Pa.hhnding Party of the association
and the Touring Club came into Rich
mond and found that no formal meas
ares had been taken to greet the
members. The pathhnding party CON
sisted Of Mr.. ]. f. Pennybaeker. Jr.,
secretary Of the American Associa-
lion for Highway Improvement. Paul
y. Sargent assistant director of the
United States Offices for public roads
Secretary +. Ii. Elliott. of the Tour
ing Club of America. and Colonel
Henry McNair. editor OF the Blue
Book. the Official publication OF the
Touring Club.
Captain p st. Julien Wilson. State
highway commissioner. chaperoned
the party but when they arrived at
the Jefferson hotel. Tuesday night,
the only one to tie on hand to greet
them was Dallas -. Armstrong, q
Atlanta. Ga.
The error was through no fault Of
the Richmond Automobile club. nor
yet the officers of the Virginia Asso-
eaeticn. They had not learned when
the party WAS due TO arrive. nor yet
here II would go when II had ar
I.Ned.
No Official Reception.
Therefore, 80 preparations hat
been made TO give the party an official
welcome each thinking no doubt,
that the Chamber OF Commerce would
tend out an official notice on the SUR
.itct. The fiters of this body. how
ever appeared 10 be equally II, the
dark and the pathfnding party. much
H. itg surprise had to make its pres
cnce known through Captain wis N.
M.anwhi!a the gentleman from At
lsnta got is.st He noticed that the
tYorrij,ers Of the party felt some what
ehagrined over the circumstances
mentioned : hoVe and he promptly
Irttceeded To state what Atlanta would
haNe done hal the party visited thtt
4ifN. re went iuTtnti ne tt'fN al W
fiIat he Was in Richmond to suggest
the availability et Atlanta or the
second annaei convention "f the as
s1e-ation. Richmond. he said. mad
been voted tire first convention and
4Aslopta wanted the 1872 gath ring.
but Atlanta ", ia lie more thant ".
.ee 10 take over the lsll convention
right now.
~ do not wish 10 make a formal
Mr. Armstrong
10 the members of the pa;hfinding
party, "hut / am prepared TO state
that Atlanta Will pay $4,000 II You
viii change the convention from RICH
mond to Atlanta and we VIII give you
reception with the governor TO mead
It, the mayor TO make an address o,
welcome and with every official and
diSnitary In tho State attending.
Atlanta Headed on.
The words sounded good in the ears
of the pathfinders but II appears that
Captain st. Julien Wilson heard some
thing about the informal offer OF the
Atlanta man, which only needed nod
from the influential members of the
party to turn into real offer
Captain wilson got In touch with
President Henry Wood. OF the chamber
Of commerce. President Wood got in
touch with Business Manager w. T.
Dabney. He also got In touch with
Secretary Pennypacker. of the Ameri-
can Association for Highway Improve
mont.
A conference was arranged and held
yesterday afternoon at O'Clock. 1t
was attended by Captain ST. Julien
Wilson, Mr.. Penny hacker. President
Wood and Mr.. Dabney, Before 1t had
teen concluded everything had been
satisfactorily explained all around and
meeting was set to be held to-day
when arrangements for the convention
will be outlined as far as possible.
President Wood has called upon the
members of the chamber of commerce
committee on conventions, and the
Committee on streets and highways to
meet Secretary Pennybacker and Cap
tain St Julian Wilson. to-day at noon,
President Preston Beivin OF the Vir-
(Contfnued on Fifth Page)