The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-20
NEED To MAINTAIN
PENINSULA ROAD !
M. c. ARMSTRONG BRINGS RICH
MoND MEN TO TASK ABOUT
HIGHWAY.
HE WRITES : LETTER .
SAYS THAT PEOPLE AT THIS END
SHOULD DO THEIR SHARE
TO KEEP UP GOOD
WORK.
HE WRITES A LETTER =

The wisdom of Henry W. Ander.
son, president OF the Richmond
Washington Highway association, in
insisting upon a maintainence fund
for that highway, Is shown by the
conditions that confront the Penin~
suia Highway association.
.ffrts sand ard clay road was built
through the eLtsrprise Of Newport
News and Richmond good roads
men. the Newport News men doing
the bulk of the work while the Rich
mond contingent did It's best to stir
up enthusiasm and raise money for
the highway.
The Richmond Automobile club
did all that MAS possible TO aid the
road builders and appointed COM
mites TO go before the members OF
the city government of Richmond
and urge the claims of the highway
constructors, Aid was promised and
though favorably acted upon by thu
finance committee the city appropri-
ated nothing toward the betterment
of the highway and money con-
tributed by citizens of Richmond
went into the general fund for road
building.
Nothing TO Maintain Road.
The Peninsula Highway assocIa-
ton received about $500 from the
Richmond committee on good roads
and this WAS used wholly for con-
struction work. When II came tn
maintainence. however, there was
nothing IN reserve. except what had
been contributed by Newport News
and by the citizens in New Kent,
James City, Elizabeth CRY and War
wick counties.
Henrico county. IL appears, gave
little besides its good will To tho work
OF building and maintaining the road
and while the city OF Richmond Is
permitted to build and mainrain
roads coming into the city. the Pc
ninsuia highway from Just beyond
Seven Pines 10 the Chickahon1iny
river is The worst section of the en-
tire thoroughfare. The road In the
neighborhood of Bottoms Bridge can
be travelled, but IL IS heavy hauling
for the stoutest teams used by farm
ers and rough on the strongest built
automobiles
Voluntary Organization.
The Peninsula Highway association
In n voluntary organization and
while all the members are good roads
enthusiasts they are unable to make
binding arrangements with the ST.
pervisors of the county roads and are
forced to seek fresh contributions 10
maintain the highway built through
the generosity OF pubIic-spirited men.
The Peninsula Highway association
undertook to obrain sufficient
number OF members at dues OF one
dollar. yearly. TO pay for the cost or
maintaining the highway. but this
plan has not met with unqualified
success.
The Newport News people are now
taking the Richmond people. to task
for failing To do their full share f.
C. IseIouze. OF Richmond first v!ee~
president Of the Peninsula Highway
ansnciation. has received letter from
M. c. Armstrong. president OF the
Elizabeth CITY Good Roads ss~oeia-
ton. in which Mr.. Armstrong says:
Mr.. Armstrong; letter.
Last fall It Was generally under
str,.d that YOU people would take care
az the road from Barhamsville into
Richmond. and that we would take care
OF this end that we would keep men
on the road. dividing the work IN
sections.
"Mr Manyilie tells me that he Will
finish M to BarhansvilIe this week.
With what funds New Kent gave us
we started at Bottoms Bridge ana
have worked this way. The workers
are now within five miles OF New Kent
courthouse and orr money has given
out II does seem TO me that II We
look after our half OF the road that
Richmond could look after the other.
II the nf,pes ,hai1r II tetssrEist- dsssn,
the road, as a highway. will be Of lit
tie use.
81 understand that Henrico county
has done nothing toward working the
road although 1t is nearest TO youx
city.
Have Done Their Share.
"0ur people have certainly done thest
share both toward building and mafn-
tanning the road and unless your END
can come forward and help us. 1t looks
to me that II Will be useless to try
and maintain a highway between the
two places.
MIR. Manville will have to stop work
Thursday"
The necessity for maintainenca
fund is set forth very clearly In Mr.
between Richmond and Newport News
III mart of the international and
transcortinental systems II Is neces-
,.arv for Il to be built to Withstand the
weather at all seasons OF the YEAR and
fund will have to be established to
nlrintain it if II is to be maintained.
1t is probable that the matter win
he brought ofrcially to the attention
of the authorities in Henrico county,
TO the city government of Richmond
and 20 the state highway commissions
erS office.