The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-19

In time these VirEinians Will DO push-
ed against the barrier OF the West,
and resurslng. they will find bikes
built 10 stay them from tho land or
their sircs: and Virginia. with It's ira
ditons, It's history made glorious BY
Washington and JEFFERSON. ue Lee ana
jackson, VIII crown an alien popula-
ton, who VIII have profit OF the EIori-
Gus deeds OF its founders.
one OF tho most serious obstacles
that Virginia had to contend with In
her efforts at rehabilitation was her
ante-war debt. amounting 10 $4,000
600, growing out OF her internal I'M
provements. Much OF II was spent on
roadway and canal. 1t might DO
claimed they paved tho way for SUB
sequent improvements. but tho James
River and Kanawha Canal was de-
stroyed; by railroads, 1t might be said.
10 be rid OF It's competition; but 9TH
or causes contributed, notably the
State debt
Its future value in tho Industrial
lie of tho State was incalculab!e
HAD tho hand OF fate been STAYED for
ten years, the dream of Washington
Tor canal 10 tho Ohio would have
been realized Tho contract OF tn.
frenchmen. Ernest Bcllot dos Mini
ercs. Brothers & Company. OF France.
TO build the canal. for tho Virginia
canal Company, SUCCESSORS Of the
James River and Knnnwha Canal
Company, chartered. by act of the
Generai Assembly Of Virginia on
March 30, 1861, ana which was ~.
enacted February 3, 1885, ana ore o-
contract renewed. afforded on almost
certain assurance OF It's completion
had the war been stayed.
Io-day nearly two-thirds OF that
ocbt remains direct charge upon tho
res of the State. while almost
,ne ehtirc asset upon which It wns
pased has disappeared Tho one
third arbitrarily assigned TO west
virginia In Nirginia's settlement with
hcr creditors also rem-ains q mooted
question. Virginin .laa eecn unablo
70 deny her paramount obligation, vet
west virginia evades her liability, In
fact, denies It, and her people VIII
not voluntarily assume 1T. and may
not be forced to pay 1t. Tho serious
moss OF Virginia's position, vita ref-
erehce to the debt assigned to West
virginia c1nnot BID gainsaid The prob
lem Is unsolved and dependent upon
future political conditions. which no
man ma, is so wise ms TO be nole to fore
tell much less anticipate or provide
against
hchind tho movement for road build
ing Is tho indeterminate and danger
GUS force OF tho so-called Good Ronds
ACCOMPLISHMENTS because II Is
euppichlehted by tho aid of all those
VINO may profit during tho time or
construction. There IS no county In
virginia that can with impunity make
n hond ISSUE incur an Indebtedness
beyond Its reasonable ability to nav
curing the lifetime OF generation.
which. under the Constitution OF 1851
was hNed Mt thirty four years.
Railroads have INTERRUPTED trorc
which the great arteriai nlphwavs
such as the Valley Turnpike from
Winchester to Staunton, and tn ence hv
the Staunton md Parkcrsburr Tmrn.
PIKE to the Ohio Rivor at Parkcrs-
burg were Intended to bear and dis
tribute, minimizing their value both
as great public highway, us well as
local distribution-somc sections al
most dcnuded OF trafic, leading no.
where---so that the initial expenditure
for their construction can no longer
DC regarded as an asset
To plant system of rosds In ad
vance OF their needs, spread over a
large territory of questionable utility.
to the farmer. referring moro particu-
larry TO macadamzcd roads as oppos-
cd to good, well drained, dirt, clay or
gravel roads. is lacking the element
OF common sense. 1t reminds ono or
tho boom times OF 1890. when Shen-
don. Basic City and Glasgow cnme
into being, and hundreds OF other
places throughout tho State. cXtcnned
their limits by Improvement compa-