The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-21
New Peninsula Highway I'm
der Most Adverse Conditions
Proves Its Quality.
CLOUDBuRST FAILS
TO HOLD BACK PARTY
Fears That Road Would Prove
impossible Found Ground
less by Tourists on
Opening Trip.

Tested under the most adverse con-
ditions the new Peninsula Highway
has met with nothing bat praise from
those who took part III the Socia piuty
run Saturday. A cloudburst ia New
Kant county Friday night drenc0ed
thu road, felled a tree across 1t near
Eaftamsville and caused the people
who lived III that vicinity 10 declare
II impossible.
Formerly the road would have been
ina f,sssSS1 ttits. but the fact that thirty
cars, including II little electric coupe,
- ssed over the worst portion with
out accident speaks more eloquenIy
than anything else for the work ac-
and his aides in connecting Richmond
and Newport News with h sand and
clay thoroughfare.
The news road was formally open
ed Saturday. Mayor Richardson, 3f
Richmond. made a trip over +. 1t and
pronounced IL excellent In parts
where the thirty ears had rolled it
a5 smooth as pavement. the road
Y AS. et4QAl to- 81 citss hnaIeE ar It.: 80
be cure there are places which need
little more attention, particularly
in Henrico county. but the road is
now lit for all travel. as the So
ciabnlty run Saturday demonstrated
] was most eventual run. To be-
gIa with il wa-s the official opening
Of ne new highway The mayor Of
Richmond. David G. Richardson, was
10 travel down the peninsula as the
guest OF The Richmond Nrsinian. aad
meet the mayor OF Newport News.
Marquis Jones Members OF she
Richmond Automobile CLUB and
motorists from all over the State were
t. follow the pilot car and the car
containing the guests of The Viz
ein:a1 and after an informal recep-
ticn the opening of the road was 10
be- officially proclaimed.
Program Carried Out
While this program was not car
ried cut TO the letter it went throug.s
In splendid shape. Mayor Richard
son rode back from over the nav
highway from Newport News after
ta'aS cling there by train. but Captaia
~. Julien Wilson, State highway CON-
missioner. made the journey both
ways.
With Captain Wilson were Mr.. S, n.
Noodtn, general manager OF The
htchmond Virginian. and President
Preston BeiVin, OF The Virginia state
Automobile Association. The party
tray elled in a Speedwell car. furnish
&c through the courtesy Of Mr.. John
r. Alscp, of the Alsop Motor Com
pany, and driven by Mr.. Edwards
who incidentally drove the winning
speedwell car in the Atlanta to New
ERIK race III 1910
The party made an excellent run
down and comira back Mr.. Edwards
demonstrated the qualities of the
Npecdwen as a roadster. The time
of this car from the limits of New
port News to Richmond was 2:o5.
and sixteen minutes We're spent on
the way, so that the corrected time
vas 4e-which is something OF a
resora and speaks we'll not only for
TIE Speedweil car but for the now
highway.
Declared Run or.
The start was To have been made
a. o'clock. but at ESQ in the morn
irs came a telephone message from
Nj, Manvil1e telling of the clond-
burst in New Kent county and de-
clarins the run off until September
you can't get through" said Mr.
Manville. II hear that there is a
stretch between Barhamsvile and Sla-
tersyille that is absolutely impossi-
BILE, 1t is not right TO take party
over the road at this time and call Ii
a sociability run It will be nothing
but an endurance run. Better wait /
until the rainy season Is over and
make the run September 3"
The message or Mr. Manvilie was /
taken to DIR. Bassett. chairman of the |
CONTINUED on Fifth Pagaa \