The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-16
NECESSITY OF GOOD ROADS
is DISCUSS SEQ BY PAGE

IS DISCUSSED by PAGE
Government Expert Tells Bankers
of Problems Arising From
Modern Traffic.
BRANCH MAKES AN ADDRESS
Richmond's Veteran Banker Says
He Would Rather Wear Out Than
Rust Out--Addresses on Agricul-
turc Are Well Received.
Tho vital Importance Of good roads
was graphically pointed out to dele
gates here attending the forticth an
nual convention of the American Bank
ers Association in the address of Logan
Waller Page, director, Office of Public
Roads. United States Department of
Agriculture. delivered at the morning
/. session of the convention yesterday at
the Jefferson Hotel auditorium. Mr..
Page spoke Interestingly of the num-
orous problems involved In road i'm
rrovements and maintenance, and
stated that the solution of these prob
lens calls for the very best thought
and efforts of specialists.
MODERN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS
MAKE PROBLEM COMPLEX
Modern traffic conditions have in
tensified to a remarkable degree, the
difficulties attendant upon the adapta-
ton OF road surfaces to traffic require
ments," he said. 'Far-reaching ques-
tons as to the distribution of cost
burdens so that they may rest equita-
bly, upon the shoulders of all who bene
fit by the improvement, occasion no
little controversy among those who are
striving for the development of our
primary transportation facilities"
Explaining the magnitude OF the
problem. Mr.. Page drew logical conclu-
sions from his statements of existing
conditions, and urged his hearers. In
dividually and collectively, to WELD
whatever influences they may command
in furthering the systematic and eff
cient Improvement and maintenance Of
the public roads.
Making the point that haphazard
tinkering with earth roads Is source
of continual waste Of money and is
constant object lesson to teach the ne
cessity of competent supervision. Mr..
Page said: 1T was said by some one
familiar with the road overseer that II
Lee had turned out the road forces to
work the Virginia roads In the rear Of
his army, Grant would never have
reached Richmond"
SOIL FERTILITY
DISCUSSED BY EXPERT
Soil Fertility: Greatest Necessity
and the Best Investment" was the
subject of an interesting address by
DR.. c. G. Hopkins. department of soil,
University of Illinois. Champaign. ILL.,.
and director of the agricultural de-
ipartment Of the Southern Settlement
and Development Organization. DIR.
Hopkins urged the assembled bankers
to use their influence in an effort to in
duce the Federal government to spend
more money for agricultural improve
ments and less for battleships and coast
defenses. when we take down our
coast defenses,' he said. land cease
building warships for destruction then
the income tax will at least be divided
between tho Federal departments for
agricultural development and research"
or great interest to the convention
was the address Of j. D. Eggleston,
president of the Virginia Polytechnic
Institute, Blacksburg. Educating the
Producer" was his topic. He said eff
ficiency is the cornerstone of the cdu-
cational system.
NEED OF TRAINING
FOR EFFICIENCY
IF anything is worth doing, it is
worth doing WE'LL he said, whether 1t
be work or play. whether II be blowing
whether IT be planting potatoes in the
earth or preaching righteousness to
human hearts; whether IL be painting
n picture or painting n house; whether
II be digging II ditch or performing an
operation in surgery. II is best done
when he who does IT has been trained
to do 1t with efficiency, and with Il
passion to do it better than It has ever
been done before"
Urging the bankers to lend their as
sistance In helping TO educate farmers
by cooperating with tho demonstration
and extension work, President Eggles-
ton said: Your returns In helping to
educate the producer will be enormous.
No other single force WELD
greater power for good-for economic
prosperity-than your association"
JOHN i. BRANCH
MAKES nRIEF ADDRESS
John p. Branch, president OF the
Merchants National Bank, of Rich
mond. and veteran member OF the
bankers association, was called on for
speech just before early adjournment
OF the convention yesterday. MIR.
Branch extended n hearty Welcome to
the delegates to return to Richmond
and said ii afforded him great pleasure
10 attend the convention. II havc;bccn
at work for over sixty years, and Am
still ut work." said MIR. Branch .Ot
course. ] am not able to do as much
as i used to do, but ! am constantly
doing something. | would rather wear
out than rust out" Mr.. Branch was
largely instrumental I'm bringing tho
bankers convention to Richmond in
1900, and is a former member of the
executive council.
Woman Slapped by Policeman In Fined.
Martha Booker colored, the woman
several mornings ago led TO Patrolmnn
Jennings Shaping her in the face was
yesterday again arraigned before JUS