The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-06
EXPECT BIG ATTENDANCE
AT ROAD CONVENTION
Rurnl Rond Improvement League OF
Virgins, Meets Here Oh
May 20.
ATTRACTIVE PROGRAM PLANNED
League Aims to Induce People To Give
One Days Work Each Year I'm Road
Improvement.

According to reports made yester-
day by President ]. Shepherd Potts.
1909 people from all sections OF the
State have sent written word that they
will attend tho first convention OF
the Rural Road Improvement League,
which will DO held in Richmond on
May c7-s0. Tho board of managers
OF the league met yesterday afternoon
In the Office of Roosevelt Page. Second
Auditor OF Virginia, to go over the
plans for tho meeting. At conscrva-
tive estimate the board looks for 1000
visitors.
The Rural Road Improvement
League Is Il Statewide Organization
'"ith county organizations In each
county of Virginia. In tho majority
of instances the county units are head
cd by the county's representatives IN
the General Assembly. 1t IL designed
TO stimulate road building by engaging
the people of the counties to put their
hands to the work instead OF merely
giving money.
The league works on the basis that
since tho income for roads can he but
slowly increased, the people should
adopt a new policy and every citizen
give one dag of tho 800 to work on
improving the roads in his immcdia te
neighborhood. The same idea has
been worked with astonishing results
in ether states and appears to have
taken hold In Virginia.
SPECIAL LOW RATES
II LARGE NUMBER ATTEND
The league announced yesterday that
the hotels OF the city have made re-
markedly low rates for convention vis!-
tors, and that the railroads have agreed
to give reduced rates in case 900 dele
gates attend. In this event. all the
railways In Virginia will offer round
trip tickets to Richmond at the price
Of the single fare for convention dele
gates. The city OF Richmond has made
II generous appropriation for the enter
taininent OF the visitors. and An attrac-
tive program Is being prepared.
The meetings OF tho convention will
be held in many parts of the city and
In the surrounding counties. y big
feature Will be practical dcnonStra ions
Of road building and road improve
ment. Tho business interests of Rich
mond have shown considerable interest
in the convention. and are contributing
generously to the expenses.
Among the speakers who have been
engaged for the convention arc: Logan
Waller Page, director OF the United
States Office OF Public Roads. and DR..
Joseph Hyde Pratt. State Gcologist OF
North Carolina, and director OF high
way construction in that state.
President Potts has been put in gem
eral charge OF the arrangements for
the convention. a. w. Freeman has
been given the task of arranging the
program. while L. NJ. Mcclure has been
assigned the conduct of the road de-
monstrations. The other members or
the board Of managers are Roosevelt
Page. John Stewart Bryan, L. r. wor-
rell. w. l.. Harris, j. J. Owen and Il. 4.
Stumpf.
Large prizes are offered by the league
to the county organizations producing
the best concrete results In road build
ing. and keen competition has been
aroused. Tho convention In Richmond
is to be followed by others in various
sections of the State