The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-23
ROAD WORNDOWN|
BY MOTOR CARS.
Valley Turnpike Company Has
Hearing on Proposed Addi-
tional Tollgates.
HORSEPOWER AFRAID OF 1T
Claim That Pleasure Traffic Is
Reduced as Automobiles
Grow in Number.

Automoplles running at high speed
ON the Valley Turnpike have caused
greatly increased expenses In tho mat
ter OF repairs, according to the evi-
uence adduced yesterday before the
state Corporation Commission on the
nearing OF the petition of the Valley
turnpike Company 10 be permitted
TO erect four additional toll gates on
the road 1t is proposed to place
these gates clos, to the towns OIL
W oodstock, New Market, Stra sburE
and l:dinburg. all in SHENANDOAH
county.
1t was Turthcr testified that the
growing use of automobiles has re-
duced the pleasure traffic on the pike.
many women and others being afraid
to drive horses there.
The popularity of tho famous old
pike in which the State owns shares.
is shown In the fact that not far from
nan OF the revenue from tolls comes
from automobinsts. For the month OF
May. 1911, the sum of ST77 was real
lied from these tolls. while from ali
other sources the total was S9l4.
Proceed Under New Law.
Under an act passed by the last Leg
lslature, the State Corporation Com
mission is empowered to permit the
erection of an additional gate on any
section OF five miles, where IL is shown
that the turnpike company is unable
10 collect tolls to any considerable
extent from local travel However. II
is not permitted to cnarge through
traffic more than ono regular toll for.
each full section of five .,lles, no mat
ter now many gates are on the section.
II was stated in .he hcaring yesterday
that char;-a of 10 cents Is made 10
automobiles which carry but one per-
no ~
cents for larger machines which In
ciudes practically all. This means a
rate of 3 cents per mile for travel
over the pike.
Under the rule of fve-miie distances
between gates, they are now cree ted
close TO each of the four towns men
toned Therefore. the people living
along and near the road In one dircc-
ton must pay toll in travelling through
and from the town. while those on
the other side of the town for sew
eral miles pass through no gate and
pay no toll. 1t is now proposed TO
put In gates on the other side of these
towns. and charge half rate Mt each
FOR through travel, collecting toll from
all who use the road
Candidates Appear.
Richard Evelyn Byrd appeared Tor
the Valley Turnpike Company, while
uuSe. r. ,. IaNenner and Common
wealth's Attorney Rush Williamson
represented the people who object to
the gates. Harry +. Byrd. president
OF the turnpike concern, was a Wit
ness. The witnesses on the other SIDE
We're mostly local candidates for Of
hce, fact which was brought out
first by Speaker Byrd and later py
Judge Tavenner himself. to the amuse-
ment of the commission. The defense's
testimony was intended to make II an
pear that the erection of the gates
would break up trade relations in the
towns and divert part OF 1t to other
nearby points, and further. that the
company would not realize much In
come from the gates anyway. Mr.
Byrd tried to bring out the PROPOSE
ton that if the latter contention is
true, it is the company which would
be hurt.
The taking of testimony was con-
Guided. except that MIR. Byrd may In
troducc one more witness when the
commission meets again at 10 O'Clock
this morning. Argument will prob
ably then be had l