The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-19
PIONEERS OF GOOD
ROADSIN VIRGINIA

IN in Virginia is Practically in lis IN
fancy, 1t Is nevertheless interesting 10
revert to what has been done and how
1T has been done.
It is also worth while for us TO re-
MIND ourselves OF those whose public
responsible for tho Launching OF this
movement.
j.; ! :, great .',a., many Of our leading nor
and easily traverscd, in spite OF the
fact that little more than two
ago practically all OF virginia's roads
were series Of mud holes
When Tho Times Disp patch inaugti-
rated their good roads campaign, wa
probably did not realize what an in,-
portant movement 1t was, or that it
was the beginning OF an era of road
building such as we now realize. Whct:
ms movement was launched. practical
same necessity. in order that not
only the most remote points might lie
reached but that this work might be
done with dispatch. and in a manner
TO arouse public interest. The means
OF conveyance chosen was n motor car
~, When 3.h The Times i.n1. Dispatch selected
roads through Virginia, there were
many who declared that larger ana
ligher powered car should have been
made q run OF 163 miles through the
mud in n single day. lcd the huge
White Steamer OF the New York Her
or the atlanta Journal for 100 miles
in a single day 10 Richmond and then
again led them l75 miles into Wash
ington, public opinion changed about
the Chalmers 80" and it Was hailed
rs the great Virginia road car.
Not content with this accomplish
the record in run from Louisa TO
Richmond. over fifty nine miles OF the
worst country roads in three hours
and twenty-five minutes.
IL. oar ff.r
The Iimes-DisDatch, the same Chal-
iners 90 covered over 900 miles OF
Inc roushest roads In the state, and
cost
This seemed to convince the public
that the Chalmers was not only the
in hand" pioneer with The Times IBIS
patch a hin, IN this wonderful movement for
Since this time our roads have con-
linually improved. and the Chalmers
car has continued to make new records
During The TImes-Dispatch endur.
ance run last May Il Chalmers so
made ,nai the trip from Richmond to,Wash,
thirty minutes. conveying four pas
sengers and finished tho entire run
with perfect score.
Chalmers car has since made tho
run from Winchester to Richmond.
distance OF 212 miles. in g. single day.
In Inc Times Dispatch North Caro-
lima endurance run, two Chalmers cars
driven by their owners. were the only
cars in their class to even finish.
Tho Virginia records or this car does
not by any means surpass other feats
which this wonderful road car has
performed In other sections Of tho
country. The first Chalmers car ever
built is the only car that ever made
the trip from Denver to Mexico City.
across mountains and deserts
a Chalmers car won the 1910 Gid
den Tour. which was the hardest ana
, most trying endurance contest the
world has ever known. No other car
selling for less than $4,000 has ever
| accommodated this feat. The route OF
tho .Glidden Tour extended over the
Southern States, from Cincinnati TO
Chicago. by way Of Dallas, rcxas.
These same Chalmers cars arc daily
covering Virginia roads In the hands
or moro than $50 OF Virginia's most
public spirited citizens.
For It should be said that it has al
ways performed its duties with tho
highest degree OF efficiency, and Its
sturdy constructions with Its modera to
price, insures 1T the distinction Of al
ways being prominently CONNECTED
with tho good roads movement and of
rendering exceptional service to those
whose business and pleasure attracts
them over highways whore obstuclca
have to be encountered.
The Chalmers car has successfully.
demonstrated that 1t Is peculiarly
ADAPTED FOR ptoneer work