The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-15
BOOST GOOD ROADS AT
BIG SMOKER TONIGHT
Cham 5er Of ommerce w iii i ct as Host When
Delegates From Many Cities Gather to Dis
cuss Plan for Raising Money to Build
Virginia Link rem Washington t.
Richmond Via treder. cksburg,
in ian4i-tu-Quebec
Highway.

GOOD roadn will DO the topic OF dis
cussion at smoker TO be held tonight
In tho auditorium OF the jefferson
Hotel. Tho Chamber of Commerce Will
act as host. am as guests Will come
delegates from Baltimore. Washington
fredericksburg, Manassas, Bowling
Green. Ashland and the several ooun-
Ties OF this State through which the
proposed Quebec to Miami highwhy
will pass.
Men we'll vcrscd in the work OF road
hulding viii DO on hand TO address
those gathered. They will tell just
what Is needed IN Virginia. President
I NJ. Darlington. OF the chamber. Will
he In the chair. John c. Easlcy, chair
man OF the chamber committee on
streets. roads and parks. VIII also
make an address. So Will Preston Bel
YIN. president OF the Virginia State
Automobile Association. and Mr.. Eeale
of Bowling Green, and Whit y. Payton
OF Stafford county. and V. J. Graves. OF
Frcdcr!cksburg and II. s. Iiynson, Of
Manassas.
Out of all the cratory which VIII be
dispensed II is hoped TO find some prac-
teal way 20 raise the 100000 needed
to build the Virginia division OF the
great highway. The value OF the road
VIII be presented In striking way
Tho method for It's construction wi .
he pointed out Ia detail. Everybodys
views VIII be heard. and the best sug-
Fes,ions offered Will be adopted. All
Richmond Is invited TO attend the
smoker II is believed that at least
$50 delegates from out Of town will be
on hand
The movement Is a growing one. and
MS matter OF fact. the highway (!
nearly complete with the exception Of
about l30 miles OF road TO be con-
struc,ed in Virginia. or course, It Is
not essential that the road pass
through Richmond. There are other
Ways TO reach the South. For Instance
tourists may use the Valley route. by
way Of Roanoke. or they may come
down the Eastern Shore. But Rich
rlond and Fredericksburg and the
other cities and towns along the more
direct route want the benefit OF the
money which tourists Will spend. Not
alone that, but the farmers, who must
depend on the highways 10 bring their
produce to market. will be incalculably
benefited.
For instance on tho present Insecure
and deplorablc ronds, the cost OF haul
ing is out OF all proportion TO what IT
Is where good roads are already In
cyistencc. The hnrdshps endured by
both the animals and tho driver arc
without number. The wear and tear
wa lOl4.ie SlOEh IL l! elNeIlIOuS. so tnat
the life Of a vehicle driven along bad
roads Is just about one third what II
iE on good roads.
The smoker rendered ny the chamber
tonight IS the outcome OF weeks
study OF the situation. Nobody more
than the business men of Richmond
realizes the Importance OF good roads.
1t Is thought that when the Several
commercial organizations of Richmond,
such as the Business Mems Club, the
Travellers Protective Association. the
United Commercial Travellers, the Adj
vcrtiscrs' Club. and tho South Rich
mond Business Mems Association,
iningle with delegates from out of
town. who are just as much interested
rs is Richmond, that something can be
accomplished toward making the road
way a reality.
After the speeches have been made.
and after the delegates have been
dined. business meeting will be held,
1T which the Virginia division OF the
Quebec Miami International highway
will be formed. Branches of the Viz
Einia organization will be established
In each county along the route. Each
OF these branches will be properly Off
ccred. and Will be instructed how to