The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-20
WELCOME. GENTLEMEN OF THE GOOD
ROADS CONGRESS.

ROADS toN6ktG~~
Rlrhts1ond welcomes the first American Good
Roads Congress today with no stilted phrase
or perfunotors Journalism.
When We. Say we are giad to see YOU se1'-
,enen. we mean IT from the heart. Richmond
is yours we have been awaiting this pleas
ure these MANY months and now We tell YOU
what sou VIII md out for yourselves during the
next few days-tbat old Virginia hospitality
means something and that Richmond knows
how TO extend it.
W. consider II an honor that your officials
have chosen Richmond the meeting place
for lis first gathering Of movement SO Gig
niteant Of progress, 30 potent "a factor Tor the
carrying on Of q great work molly begun.
All Virginia Joins ia this welcome, as II Will
ioin later in the work that shall he outlined Is
the Congress for tne practical Improvement Of
: the nat1du-s highways,
The American Association Highway I'M
proveITYent through whose efforts this great
Congress has been called, has performed a
public service we'll deserving the thanks OF the
American people We know or no work which
viii touch or benefit more people than that for
which this Association stands. Nor it is a pure
av crnrnercial proposition 1t Is not under
taken purely and simply that lands may be
enhanced In value or that the owners of auto
mobiles and carriages may have nice high
ways over which to speed. that the farmers
may have better access to the markets and
that the hauling efficiency of their teams may
he increased These results viii follow. as
a matter of course. But there is noble
sentiment behind it all. This work makes the
country more livable more ltkabIe, a more
iovanIe place ir which to ike. Good roads en-
courage and upbuld the social life Of the rural
II Nv gr,41a val fIpE
hut they xiii create happiness. We who have
sounded the bottons OF old Virginia mud holes
sine. the dawn Of our recoliectons know what
good reads mean Tor the country, because we
have experienced their lack
So gentlemen al the Good Roads Congress
and of the American Association for Highway
Improvement we welcome yon. We are ready
10 enlist under your banner. We Will fight with
vo,, and for YOU We viii divide ash-cake
and bacon with you. We viii Don our best
bip and tucker in your honor and we herewith
tender ynu a sight draft Mayer pavy Crock
.st Richardson. Of the City of Richmond. fo'
,he KEYS Of the city, and commend him te
]. vnu as your mentor and guide durlA~ your stay
here He is a great advocate Of good roads
1ga has had one built for his own special hene
iii from his house 10 the City Han. lie MAJ
been an advocate Of good roads ever since
me Yankees got after him "endurin the war
We doubt not that he VIII point OUT ~ So'
III. very spot where he needed good roads then
Ana with this We have done. Richmond /
rich in its past and rich in lis present III
history has surrounded it with halo Oh slor
.mnerishahle Its monuments speak Of pas
~ which All America is proud aud in when al
Anerie,. claims part. But We do not rely npo
glorious history OF noble ACHIEVEMENTS OF year
gone py for the name and fame OF our elN
These are sacred 70 MS. ms true ana they III
ep,re as for high and noble effort. But "
nave here u city of life, of enterprise, OF III
.reasfnc Industrial and commercial lniporthne'
s. city Of whose present we are proud ana ]
p.hnsa future we have every confidence y"
,apt Won I'd see eur city while you are hef
and when you shall have returned to your seN
eral homes we want YOU to tell your ifleho
noW that ont of woes, and teTlbie sul
farsnrs upon the wreck and ruin OF the sAXne
We nave created a glorious mum cipalitJ, cit
80 homes. of thrift city where kindly &C
nnerstion prevails, whose present cohdt'ioh
xn,th, Of praise and whose future Is hrigf
with promise.