The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-13

freight rates on caustic lime and
ground limestone. The conference was
tended By the presidents or repre-
seh'htiSes OK thirteen rOhas, one ma iiu-
! iacturer OF burnt lime. two represent
latlNcS OF the farmers Institute one
., .he United states Department OF .,g-
4 ilcu!tnft, one OF the southern Plant
| CT. Two members OF the State Corpora
lion COMMISSION. and the Supcrintend-
EN- oi PuDnc Instruction. TIE rate
question VAS discussed and tn. rpnr,-
hehtdtiHes of the railroads hal a CON
leithce amongst themselves, and, with.
u uut saying? nythinS about caustic
iii stated that wh!c lney could not
sNt me rate OF one-half ii cent a ton
per mile. Tor which asked. they wuuJu
90 SO approHimateIy. increasing tho
rate for shorter distances ara nm
polhteu committee To prepare "a
Hcheduie OF rates on ground limestone
am not informed OF any ACTON on
the part or TINS committee. but nave
beth furnished with the rates. winch
, VIII be put into effect on the 18Th OF
January. 1917. By the Norfolk ana
Western Railroad Company On ground
; minimum in Central Freight AssocIa.
tion territory, and between Virginia
points. wnicn very nearly approach the
rates ior which | asked. / am sure
the other roads will do as we'll, and
mat rates Will be adopted approXi-
inately upon tho basis OF those gwen
ny the Norfolk ana Western tor snip
Inents using more than one line. IL is
recognized that the rates given do
not compensate the railroads for the
services rendered, but. az understand
IL, were gwen to enable the man at
the bottom to get II start with the
expectation OF SHARING the prosperity
thht Improved methous vi agriculture
VIII surely bring To oui people.
greatly appreciate the action of
the railroad companies in 80 readily
responding TO my request. and believe
Inc rates given VIII save hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars To the farmers OF
In
their lands, increase crops. and so In
crease, as think will be the case,
me demand for chuatic lime and fer
! tillzers oil all Kinds. tlIat manufacturers
OF THESE articIcs will nave their share
in the general prosperity.
H0uds and ItOnd-BuiIdIng.
with $4,000 miles of highways over
which the people of the State must
travel to and from their homes in
discharge of business and social obi
cations, and in pursuit of that pIeaa-
IRE which comes from intercourse with
each otner, and over winch must be
hauied the agricultural products of
tho state and those which we pur-
chase elsewhere for our comfort and
happiness, tho question OF construc-
lion and maintenance becomes at once
serious and most important Progress
ing along all other lines, and TO n con.
s,dcrable extent in road-,ouiiding, our
people are unwilling TO suffer the In
convenience and positive loss result.
Ing from roads which for many months
are bad and sometimes practically Inn
passable. and 1t may be added that
the time during which the roads ara
bad liz that part of the year in which
our people in the country are not
pressed by the demands OF business
and have leisure for social enjoyment.
Tint we have recognized tho Import
anco of this question Is shown by the
establishment OF a State Highway
Commission as Il department. OF our
government. Under the direction OF
our State Highway Commissioner and
his assistant, valuable information has
been gained, and mAch work done for
the Improvement of our highways.
over 500 miles of permanent highway.
with 500 miles more under construc-
tion, the assistance given to counties
in the way Of laying out new roads,
change OF grade, and Improvement of
old highways, advice and suggestions
20 boards OF supervisors as to the best
systems and plans for roads In their
respective counties. have contributed
With other causes very materially to
create interest and enthusiasm, which
are manifesting themselves in liberal
bond issues, twenty-five counties and
districts having voted the issuance for
road purposes amounting TO 53.Sa3,000.
we have now at work on the roads
fifteen camps, two under the old law,
In which about 500 convicts are en-
:2loyed, at an expense pei, so,, Of about
Ing ton hours a day. and SO 34-100
cents for each calendar day. The en-
penses OF two of these camps were
paid in part 10y the counties In which
they worked. In addition to the 1a3
conricts working on the public roads,
In fifteen counties there are 80 from
bails. making the total number ut work