The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-06
MOTORING AND GENERAL SPORTING NEWS
Car @m0
Highway


When the good roads movement
began a few years since, a move
ment that now embraces nearly every
county in the State of Virginia, Charles
City county fell into line and since
then has kept step with the march
of progress, along the plan of bet
ter public highways
l have just made A little trip over
some of those greatly improved roads
and as l was preparing to take pho
tograph showing a section that had
been worked, an automobile spun by
at such rate Of speed as to make
me almost wonder at the transfer
nation in that same piece of road
where in days gone by mot so long
ago either), il took a good team of
mules or oxen to drag load over It.
The same may be said Of the ma
jority of the public roads Of this his
toric county-famous as the BIRTH
place of two presidents of the United
States, William Henry Harrison anG
John Tyler. also congressman, judges,
etc, who are remembered for their
good work in their separate lines. In
connection with the good roads ques-
ton here, Il may be said that his
tory reeounts the fact that when
Thomas Jefferson married the fair
widow Shelton, OF The Forrest" in
Charles City county, he began bis
wedding Journey TO Monticello In
coach, but before he reached his
beautiful estate In Albemarle coun-
ty. the coach was deserted on account
of the roads lit was the month OF
January. SO the distinguished states
l.. a H.
of the trip on horseback. 1t is con-
soing TO know that the wedding
coach was able to traverse the Charles
City roads even AT that date and that
the bridal couple got past the coun-
" lines before they took 10 horse
back
Since that early period and along
up to the past Ave years I maintain
a certain reticence in writing up the
history OF the public roads OF this
particular section of the old s'orl-
suonwealth. Enough has been said
of them by others, those wso pep
force had to travel them regularly
and in all seasons. The day of t..e
old fashioned road oveTseer seems to
lie past; the irregular force ~ hands.
each bound to give day or So 3n
labor each year to the maintenance Of
the roads, has past.
This county, divided into three dis
tricts. has a regularly appointed road
superintendent for each district.
whose duty IL Is 10 employ good teams,
machinery and men 10 Wprk the roads
OF his particular district Ry this
method the money furnished for road
work can he expended in such man
uer as 10 give the best results. and
the work d3ue IS Of net only a better
but q more lasting nature.
ON or near MANY sections Of the
roads there are gravel beds, and when
possible quantities 81 this material
are used. especially on pieces OF clay
roed whien become miry In wet
weather A thick layer Of this gravel
ard sand Ghes wonders In soltdfyirg
these stretches The road machines
are helping muCh~-in fact, are vaiu
able in rounding up the roads and
raising them In the center Clearing
up the timber on each side of the
roAds admitting light and sun. has
dried out places wet 80 long that up
10 recent date the memory OF man
rurneth not to the contrary. Many
old bridges have been replaced by
new and moro substantial ones. while
in places terra-cotta piping has seen
Installed for cross drains.
1t is gratifying to note that In the
neighborhood of two hundred miles OF
public highways in this county are in
such fine condition at the present
writing that they can be traveraed by
autono hiles with safety and pleasure.
while the ordinary citizen who so far
has not been able to become an auto
owner rau speed rty rag afUTg 1T
the best pace " which the rag is
capable without any fear of his plunv-
ing into broken hedges, hottomless
mud holes or the like. provided he
stays In the road.
II looks today as If Charles City
county, SO famous as the birthplace
Of great statesmen, fine plantations
and old time hospitality, Will soon
be equally famous for It's good roads.
and, In passing, let me say that Su-
perintendents Adams, OF the Harrison
district; Walker, Of the Tyler district.
and Davis Of the Chickahominy dis
trict. are building very lasting land
marks IN the way of fine roads In
their respective Districts. NJ. Bell.
In Southern Good Roads