The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-06

!, A. the American road congress.
(which came 10 a close yesterday Mt
atlantic City. Preston Belvin. Of Rich
imond, Va, made notable address on
I~Ifow to Encourage the Sec Amerf-
Ca First Idea" The address was of
lsuch exceptional iEterest TO automo-
lbilists, good roads enthusiasts ana
particularly. yirGinians, that II Is
given herewith.
II had been alive and called upon
I three hundred years ago TO deliver an
address on Seeing America First
1 would necessarily have been COM
PEELED TO confine my refnArkx- to tho
vast territory then known as Viz
ginia.' and / and upon looking over
the held today and considering the
short time allotted me, / will not be
able to get beyond the confines Of
Virginia Nor will II be necessary. as
/ find the Quintessencs OF historical
and picturesque America encompass
ed in Virginia. The time and occa-
sion forbid my going in to details Of
either. Suffice it to say--every queS-
ton decided by war In the United
states. was determined upon the soil
OF Virginia
1t was in Virginia the first Eng
lish settlement was made. The sur
render Of CORVALLIS At Yorktown
gave liz = government OF liberty, and
the cApitulAtion OF the commander
OF the Confederate armies at Apo
mattox. Va. united two great sec
tions of this country.
narrower said; The scenery along
the rivers and through the majestic
mountains OF Virginia Is the most
beautiful in all Of the world. that
Hampton Roads. Va. as II enters In
to tho Chesapeake bay was the NEST
beautiful sheet of water and the most
wonderful harbor he had seen In all
at his travels and tbs siaw from Al
ton. Va. in the Blue Ridge noun
fains. surpassed anything that he saw
In the Alps Or any other country Of
!, mountains and valleys. >sssssss.
The people OF Virginia are hospi-
table and by taxation and private
nearly six million dollars In build
Ing good stone and grAvelled high
wayA for you. that you may come
into the very heart OF their great
state ana SEQ the land and enjoy
the climate that has produced the
greatest men and the prettiest wo-
nan or America.
There are so many good highways
ana byways completed or being con-
atructed under the management and
supervision OF tho wide-awake and
able virginia State highway commits
sioner, Captain r.. st. Julian Wilson.
I Will only be able to call your at
tention to . few.
The Shenandoah valley turnpike Il
ons Or the best macadainised - vel
Al one 81 the most historic and beau
tiful scenic highways in America II
enters the State In the extreme north
I. wet and continues for about 160
miles through the richest valley agri-
lculturAilY Ia Virginia dotted every
ffAw miles with prosperous Villages
land expensive toll gates. bcrdsred on
each side With high, but gracefully
sloping naountAtns. There are many
Eeood roads leading from this high
Way 70 hist6ricai scsAss and natural
I Ncnticsale, the home Of Thomas
iJsla~rson. ana the University OF vir-
/ 9lnja, both built under his super
sranf413 'ssss. 4 hi ~ ~
8 1Ionspeaisx. the homo d Madison
Nesora the national beauty. Dolls
1 IAAlson. his Wis. held court and
fQ1E4na hnnreoAA
- n t1Aos homes, anA tn
s.er001A3a lxknns1iA&ely around them
iasN q - sx6slIeat seAts Of preserve
!. Isssy cAvsras sad shsnaadoaE
"a &N1eN& ~ xnone intets6tin9 aa1
fD&41a1eul 61kxon IN A1nAfitA; Nature
II - aIAn q ~ wonders cf M
o. l~1a1 A II lGgxoCk 9nK0pn ~ 61Mntxi
I 1f = }kS x>nek gkc1lsGex4 ~
ii II