The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-13

Freight Association territory. and te-
tween Virginia points, which very
nearly approucn the rates for which
l asked and which will be found at
the end OF this message. 1 anu sure
the other roads win do as wCi, AMI
that rate. viii be adopted approx
mateiy upon tire basis OF those given
by the Norfolk and Western for ship
rnents usinS more than one line.
1T Is recognized that the rates given
do not compensate the railroads for
the services rendered. but AS ! under
stand 1t, were given to enable the
man at the bottom to get start. with
the expectation OF sharing the pros
perity that improved methods OF agrl-
culture will surely bring TO our peo-
pie. I greatly appreciate the action
Of tho railroad companies in SO read
lily responding to my request and be-
lieye the rates given will save hum
dreds Of thousands OF dollars to the
farmers OF Virginia and enable them
TO improve their lands, and increase
crops. This, | think, will no increase
the demand for caustic lime and fer
tillzers of all kinds. thai manufacturers
OF these articles will have their share
in the general prosperity.
Roads.
With hfty-two thousand miles OF
highways over which tbs people or
the Stalo must travel 10 ana from
their homes in discharge OF business
and social Obligations, and In puis SUIT
OF that pleasure which comes from H.
tercourse with each other. ana over
which must be hauled the agricultural
products OF the STATE and those which
We purchase elsewhere for our com
fort ana happiness. the question OIL
construction and maintenance be-
comes at once serious and most nm
portant. Progressing along all other
lihes, and to u conslleTaoie extent III
road building, our people are unwill-
ing To suner The Inconvenience ana
positive loss resulting from roads
which for many months are bad and
sonnet lines practicaIiy iinpassauie. ana
1t may be added that the time during
which the roads are bad Is that part
OF the year in which our people III
the country are not pressed by the DE-
nlands of business, and have leisure
for social enjoyment. That We have
recognized the importance OF this ques-
ton Is shown by the establishment
OF State highway commission as
a department of our government. I'm
der the direction OF our State high
W
valuable Information has been gain
ed and mucn work done for the i'm
provement of our highways. The
building under this direction of over
eight hundred miles of permanent
highway, with five hundred miles more
under construction, the assistaftce Civ
en- to counties, In the way OF laying
out new roads, change OF grade, and
Improvement OF old highways. advice
and sugxestinhs to boards of supefvi-
sors M to the best systefps nlti ptanf
iYf;ssss sks.sts iH t&si9 Respective counties,
have contributed with other causes
very materially to create interest and
enthusiasm which are manifestins
themselves In liberal bond issues.
twenty-five counties and districts hay-
ing voted the issuance for road pur-
poses amounting to three millions,
eight hundred. and MY three thou
sand dollars.
We have now at work on the roads
fifteen camps. two under the old law,
In which about five hundred and nine-
ty-three convicts are employed, at an
expense OF about SO 67-I00 cents for
each convict working ten hours . day.
and "a s4-10O cents for each calendar
day. The expenses of two of these
camps were paid In part by the coun-
ties In which they worked. In ad-
dition to the FIVE hundred and nine
ty-three convicts working on the pub
lie roads. In fifteen counties there are
two hundred and forty from Jails.
making the total number at work
eight hundred and thirty-three. 1t
has been demonstrated that the con-
victs, after 4 little experience, are
good and efficient laborers. and l
think can be made more 20 by
plas, which will be hereafter out
lined. Indeed, am informed by
our state Highway Commissioner that