The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-14
GIVE IT ru THE ELECTROMAGNETIC
INGTON HIGHWAY.

INGTON HIGHWAY.
Governor Mann is. no doubt per-
picked by the multitude of petitions
FOR the $4,000 Federal appropriation
for the Improvement of public mail
roads in this state which is ut his
disposal, but The Times Dispatch ven
lures to suggest TO him that the sum
can be expended with best results
upon the Richmond to- Wa shincton
Highway. That road IS best which
Yields n maximum of service to q
maximum OF people. and such would
bc tho thorouEhfare that would link
tho cnpital OF the nation with Vir-
sinia's capital.
The Richmond-to- Washington High
way penctrates seven counties Not
only would an improved road benefit
the people of those counties lin de-
creased cost of haul and easier trans
por:ation, hut they would undoubtedly
profit from the long distance travel
crs on the road through tho sale of
food and supplies. II must be con-
ceded that the passenger traffic on n
mond would he far greater than that
on any Of the other roads which seek
the Federal aid to he disposed of by
Governor Mann. II is evident there
fore, that tho people of the seven
counties which would be traversed on
that route would receive far greater
benefit from the road than the people
of any other counties could receive
Moreover. although a fair mileage
of good roads has been constructed
on or near the proposed Richmond-t to-
Washington Highway. the section it
would traverse is noted for it's slow
ness in responding to the good roads
movement The roads of Stafford for
example. arc almost non navigabIc. If
the highway is constructed. il will he
compelling object lesson to the peo-
pic of these backward counties. who
nave not seen enough OF improved
highways to be convinced of their i'm
mcnsc value. Educated rs to the nd
pantages of such roads, the people Of
the various communities Would begin
TO Improve unimproved roads ana
make byroads pasSafic II is an GO
tablishcd fact in Virginia that where
one good road is built other good
roads will begin 10 group around IL So
that the first good road really acts ms
" sort OF demonstration road. The
tdchmond-to-W Washington Highway
would serve in that capacity for seven
counties
This capitalize capital thoroughfarc
would unquestionably Yield n maxi
mum OF service to "A maximum of peo
ple' or all the roads seeking aid. il
would be most travelled OF All of them.
ii would most develop the section il
traverscd. The construction of tbe
highway would bring hundreds of
thousands Of dollars into the State !,
would be far moro potent I'm tina, mar
t'cular than any other road in Viz.
Slnia.
if Governor Mann shall decide tn
give the sum now In the reder,,
treasury for the purpose of road i'm
proVement IN tho State to the Rich
inond-to Washington Highway rho
Times Dispatch believes that sucb =,
slstance would insure tie constr,c-
non and completion of TINT .,re,,
cnain OF good roads. The impetus Inn,
SUCH sum would impart to tho ,,o,.o
nent for the highway would he e..
fcsisubie; with such a considcroh,o
'"d''ion 10 the fund already raised.
'hc whole amount needed could sbor,
~ be subscribed Let Governor N,pn
remember that in the case of The rich
moHd-to- Washington Highway ho
would be aiding the construction O,
permanent road for the organization
which was formed 10 secure that rond
mas provided that zertain percentage
OK all money subscribed shall be sct
aside FOR maintenance That. 60 f.,
as we know, is a feature which N,
lAehmond -to-Washinston IIigb,vay
alone in this state possesses con.
sideration that We trust Will appeal to
the practical sense Of Governor Mann