The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-29
WILSON RESIGNS
AFTERLONG TERM
Highway Commissioner Accepts
Appointment in Federal
Road Bureau.
COLEMAN TO SUCCEED HIM
Department Has Built 2,O5O
Miles OF Roads in Nir-
ginia Since 1906.

/ r. 81 Julien Wilson. who has held
the Office OF state Highway Commits
siOner OF Virginia since ii was created
IN 1906. forwarded his resignation yes
tcrdav TO Governor Mann to take Eff
feet on December -. He Will Ice sue
cccded by George T. Coleman. OF Will
liamsburS. Assistant Highway Com
missioner Mir. Wilson resigned 10 be-
come assistant director Of public roads,
IN III" Dcpartm cnt OF agriculture, UNI
der Logan Waller Page, a son of tile
late Major Leigh L. Page. OF Richmond,
tlic government director OF public
roads, no IN his new position will have
general supervision OF engineering
work His headquarters viii be in
Washington, and rs The bureau is now
I organized lie VIII have under him about
sixty engineers OF all grades, In charge
OF work throughout this country, be-
sides the clerical force and laboratory
employees
Government Aid for Roads.
Road building by the Federal gov
eminent is comparatively Il new de-
parture. The last session OF Congress
made the frs; general appropriation,
setting apart 100000 Not less than
100000 Will be provided during the
| next year. All OF the work receiving
/ government aid il under supervision OF
the director OF public roads, besides the
large number OF roads built directly by
the government leading 10 Federal res
ervations, national cemeteries and for
various other purposes.
Mr.. Wilson was formerly Assistant
City Engineer OF Richmond, and was
appointed State Highway Commissions
/ ~ by Governor swanson in 1906. The
act creating the office WAS passed at
the same time the first limited act
regarding employment Of convicts on
that he spent the first six months he
was in Office in trying to induce coun-
ties to use the six camps OF convicts
then provided. Now he has twenty
eight convict camps at work in differ
cnt parts OF Virginia. ana several
counties waiting their turn.
Has Built 1000 Miles of itonds.
During his administration ~ High
/ way Commissioners 2,030 miles of i'm
proved roads have been constructed in
Virginia. The State has appropriated
for work. including the support OF con-
victs in camp, approximately sl.150.-
900 Bonds have been issued in thirty
two counties aSgrcgating $4,000.
not all or which has yet been cXpend
ed, for the development OF public roads
on u compreh enSive plan
or the 100 counties i'll the State there
are only three that have not at one
period or another taken advantage OF
the state aid offer ny putting up dollar
for dollar with tho state appropria ton.
which IL available either in money or
in the work OF convicts.
Mr.. Wilson has been an active pro-
moter OF the Richmond ashington
| Highway. having worked III close har-
mony with the association promoting
that project in making the surveys and
in directing the efforts Of the counties
through which the road viii run.
Mr.. Coleman. who will succeed Mr..
Wilson rs State Highway Commits :
sioner. came into the Office short V
after Mr.. Wilson wa,- first chosen. lie
was at one time city engineer Of Wi
mona, MINI, and had seen service in
building State roads in that State Mir.
Coleman said yesterday that he had
come to no conclusion az to the choice
of an aSsiStant--an office to be filled by
appointment Of the State Highway
Commissioner. Hc added that the APP
pointmcnt would certainly be made
from among the men now employed in
the department. There was ample
material in tho field force of engineers
now connected with the highway de-
partment. he said. without going out
side.