The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-24
Motoring Notes
Good Road News
and Trade Matters

That the movement for federal par
ticipation In highways construction Is
not confined to motorists. but is also
being agitated by the farmers, is one
of the most hopeful indications of
its ultimate success.
on this point the recent conven-
ton of the National Grange, Patrons
Of Husbandry, the oldest and most
tions. took decidedly favorable
stand. Hon. Oliver Wilson, master of
the National Grange, In his annual
address, stated:
The public highway is a matter
OF general concern The old idea that
the country road should be construct
ed and maintained by the farmer has
disappeared. 1t Is now recognized
that good roads are OF as much i'm
portance to the consumer as to the
producer. as anything that lessons tie
cost of transportation is a benefit TO
the consumer.
The Grange stands for and ad-
vocates federal aid for road improve
ment. There can be no good reason
given why the government should not
appropriate money for the maintain
ing and the improving of the pub
lie highway, the same as for our pub
lie water works. Seventy-five per
cent OF the product OF our country
must pass over the public highway
before 1t can be transported over our
railway or water systems. While the
government has spent millions OF dol
lars for highway Improvement In our
foreign possessions. IL has never APP
propriated one dollar to be used on
the highway in contina entail United
States.
The Grange membership is unani-
| mously In favor of congress, making
suitable appropriations for highway
| construction and maintenance. This
appropriation should be expended by
national highway commission or
| board, working In conjunction with
similar commissions from the States.
The Legislative committee Of the
National Grange should be instruct
ed to use all the influence OF the
Grange upon congress for passage
| OF q bill appropriating a sufficient
| sum under proper regulations for the
| improvement Of our public highways"
c. o. Raine, of Canton, Mo. chair
man Of the Grange national commit
| tee on good roads. offered a report
| which was adopted, endorsing the
| plan for q system Of national roads,
| and the legislative committee of the
| Orange also included federal aid for
road Improvement among I.s recon-
mendations
| The enthusiastic and renewed ex-
| preston from the organized farmers
!, means much to the American Auto
mobile association. which In rapidly
getting plans matured for the second
federal aid good roads convention at
Washington. D. c., called for March
and I. 1914. Particularly inter-
esting have been the responses OF
many members of both houses Of the
national congress to the request OF
| the A. A. A. for expressions from
them Of their views on the subject
| OF national roads:
| Formerly the railroads forced a
iocaiization Of the travel on high
| ways because Of the rapid and EN-
Client service which they afforded the
public" writes Representative William
b. Francis. OF Ohio. But II is readily
seen that the new device which max es
travel on these highways possible Il
as high rate OF speed. and almost as
efficient as railroads. brings the neces-
sity for a national system. and this IL
I
progress today"
| Il believe that federal aid should
| contemplate cooperation with the
States and such concentration OF
money spent as to insure permanent,
good roads, built under the super
| vision of federal road experts" says
| Representative Sydney Anderson, OF
Minnesota.
| In addit0n to endorsements from
these sources. the A. A. A. is re-
ceiving assurances OF most enthusiast
tic cooperation from the principal
commercial organizations Of the
United States and naturally from good
roads organizations.
| New Map OF Virginia.
The center page feature of The Mo-
torisf for this month Is a reduced
fac-s imile of the new edition OF the
map OF Virginia issued by the Tour
Ing Bureau of the American Automo o.
bile association. This map was orig.
inally brought out In the fall of 1911
and was then-as It Ia now--the only
road map for the Old Dominion.
|
The King Edward Highway.
The provincial government Of Que
bee. 10 now engaged in the construc.
ton of the King Edward highway
which Ia part Of the Canadian por-
ton Of the Montreal and Miami high.
way, extending from Longueuil to
| Rouse's Point at the international
boundary.
1t 10 reported that twelve road
lbuilding plants have been establishe6
along this stretch Of road Among
the equipments mentioned are II
stone crushers. 40 stone wagons.
engines. Is road grading machines
and tank wagons for watering.