davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21

The good roads fever attacked
Neckienhurg County some five or six
wears ago. the fris; bond issue cleo
tons being held in Clarksville and
chase City districts for $4,000 and
sso.oa0. respectively. The program
of improvements was carried out and
the fever spread over the county to
such an extent thar in 1911 five other
districts IN the county voted bond
issues aggreg;tting $4,000. The pro-
ceeds are nearly or quite exhausted.
except in two districts. Boydton and
Buekhorn, which districts will prob
. bly, continue their work fer twelve
months longer with forces sufficient
to build from one and half to two
miles of tor soil roads per month
In each district There remains now
only one district, Bluestone. to issue
bonds, and there is every reason TO
believe there will soon be an election
in that district. the idea, being to
wait till the convict force is available
FOR the work. A force of from thirty
five to fifty convicts has been at work
In the county continually for more
than five years, Under the State law
county at n time. Thus far Chase
City. ClarksviiIe and Boydton districts
have had the use of the convicts at
the States expense. the camp being
now in Boyd:on district. The use Of
the convicts has proven very success
full, especially with the quarry work
and macadam construction. Unless
there Is a change in the statutes gov
erning the convicta 1t is safe to pre-
dict that force will remain in Neck
lenburg many years.
There have been built cc9 miles of
macadam and top-soil roads in the
county, and this puts Mecklenburg
we'll In the front ranks of the good
roads movement.
Most Of the macadam was built
In the early stages of the work. the
subsequent introduction OF the top
soil construction Ia term for con-
venience used to include soil. sand
clay and graveD almost entirely sup
roads have proven very satisfactory.
and II Is the opinion Of some of our
most Intelligent good roads peUpfe
that except where there Is unusually
heavy traffic. they are preferable to
water-boun1 macadam. aside from
consideration of cost. With average
conditions in the county. the cost
OF tcp-soil construction is proba bly,
less than one-third the cost of water
bound macaCam. For ordinary traf-
fic, well-kuiit top-soil road can be
maintained for probably two-thirds
the cost of maintaining average water
bound macadam Tor the same traffic.
For the most part the work by the
districts has been done by force 40
count, net cost plus 10 per cent. but
In some at actual cost, the districts
pure hasing their own equipment. en-
ploying a superintendent and doing
the work under the supervision OF the
local repreSe ntaxive or the Htate High
way Commission. For tho top-soil
roeds this method has worked ~
necaAllr Mell. Ihsr6 y inch diver.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
WHAT $4,000 MILES OF
GOOD ROADS WILL Do

| $4,000 miles of national highway will;
Serve directly so,000.000 people or Sc
| per cent of the total population.
Serve in adjoining counties 24.00o,o0o
people. or 26 per cent of the total
| population.
A total of 100000 people, or 90 per
cent of the total population.
Traverse ss3 Congressional Districts, or
95 per cent of the total.
Serve direct or adjoining 2,4T1 counties.
! or 81 per cent of the total.
Reach and connect every large and inn
portant city.
Connect every capital Of every State
with the National Capital
Form only 1-2 per cent OF our total
road mileage, but include all main
routes.
Carry so per cent of our total road
tonnage. estimated at 5.0eo.o00.o00
tons. at saving of more than So,
600, 900 per annum in the carryin 4
charges.
Costs less than $1,000, 600 TO build: this
cost will lie saved several times per
Annum. Can be completed IN ten (1o)
years.
! Accentuate road building and improve
| ment by States. counties and towns.
Raise the standard of road building
! and maintenance by all communities
| Provide steady employment for all idle
/ and unemployed.
| Provide remunerative employment for
1 deliuauents and materially improve
| their condition. besides aiding them
toward re-establishment In the COM
| munity as desirable citizens,
/ Add to the annual increase of our ma
tionaI wealth not less than $500, 00o,-
( 600,
Save annually In wear and tear OF We
/ hicles not less than $500. 900. 900.
Increase land values adjacent TO such
| highways over $500 100000
/ Increase the prosperity of the farmer
! more than any other Improvement.
Reduce the cost of living more thar
/ most any other factor,
Provide better social conditions In the
/ rural communities and thus elevate
| their Intelligence and their mora
! well being.
Make rural life more attractive. facili-
! tate ntercommunication and thus re
[ duce migration TO cities and en-
| courage the movement back 10 thf
| farm
Enable the building OF rural schools
! and thus reduce illiteracy.
Increase travel throughout the eoun-
/ try. including people TO See Amer
/ ,ica FIRST" thus keeping home an
! nually more than $3.50. 600. 600.
In other words
Favor. foster and further rhe develop
ment OF our country
/ In the length and breadth of thes.
United States of America.
BY securing the benefits.
Social moral, commercial industrial
f; material educational and personal.
In the progress and uplift of ths
! American people
Which follow in the train of easy in
i accommodation and transit.
Between the great centers Of popuia'
/ ton and distribution.
And the great rural productive area,
Of the nation.
And thus bind the States together III
common brotherhood
And thus perpetuate and preserve tn
tnion-~Saiioual Highways Associa
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
HOW GOOD ROADS FEVER HAS MADE
MECKLENBURG COUNTY BUILD UP

sity of conditions and the necessary
depth Of toD eofl to make a road OF
uniform strength is so variable that
1T is well nigh impossible to prepare
and have executed by contract speci-
fieattons that would be both economf-
cal and effective. For macadam the
contract system has been satisfactory.
Since the coming Of the good roads
the educational and industrial devel-
opment has been by leaps and bounds,
\ local wag apty remarked some time
ago that Meckienburg had civilization
thrust upon her about fifteen years
before she WAS ready to receive 1t.
4Allusion to this remark will be cx-
cused by Meckleaburgers when they
arc reminded that the writer L. a resi-
dent of Mecklenburg, and is himself
an enthusiastic Mecklenhurg booster
The march to civilization has been
accomplished in double quick time
over the improved roads.
As is Invariably the case, the good
roads movement has added impetus to
the gocd-schools movement, and
Meck;enburs is building up a school
system which Will compare favorably
with any In the State. Farm lands
are low in price, but since the advent
of the good roads. prices have been
rapidly and steadily advancing.
-MGCklcnDuIk IL fortunate III pellS
one CT the counties In the State
lanta highway The route through
the county has been adopted by the
American Highway Association. and
is generally used by tourists between
Richmond and Atlanta For the pur-
pose Of obtaining cost data for main
tenance of top-soil roads the United
states Office of Public Roads has es-
tablished on this route between Rich
mon1 and Atlanta three division en-
gineers of maintenance. who inspect
the whole route nearly every week.
These engineers are men OF long x
perience In tho government service,
and there is every reason to believe
there will be a greater stimulus to-
wards maintenance in all the counties
In which these engineers are en-
ploycd. Their automobiles are fur
nished TO the government by the
American Highway Association at q
nominal rental of one dollar per year
each The actual cost OF labor and
materials In the maintenance is borne
by the Counties, and this is the only
cost TO them. All the districts oil
Mecklenburg through which this ma
tional highway passes have subscribed
to tho arrangement and Mr.. d. HI
Wilson. of Washington, d. c.. Is the
engineer assigned othe division which
includes the thirty-eight miles through
Mecklenburr. The idea of mainte.
nance in on the theory that "a stitch
in time saves nine" and that the work
OF one man and a mule maintaining
continuously will accomplish more
than the equivalent outlay In larger
force requiring at infreQuent inter-
walls. The government engineers hope
70 Install the patrol system through
out the roilte.
4 /. - cifficuit to grasp tho 1ull aag-
|nificApce oS this new pa11eagog royt1
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
CHILDREN
TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

At least forty-three States authorize
the transportation Of pupils TO public
schools at he expense of school dis
tricts. according to a bulletin by A.
G. Monahan of the Guiped States
Bureau OF Education
In certain states transportation at
publlc expense is perm $i4iVe only,
in others obligatory. Ohio. for eX-
ample. reqaides transportation for
school, while other States require
transportation when the distance IS
one and one half miles or more.
In several of the States, according
to the nel!a in. the school authorities
may pay parents or guardians a fixed
amount per day for transportation.
while Maine, Vermont, Minnesota,
South Dakota and Oregon permit pay
ment for room and board for pupils
in homes convenient to the schools
where the cost OF so doing does not
exceed the cost of transportation.
AS to the means of transportation
the bulletin says; Sentiment seems IL
favor the school wagon where properly
managed. yet While the wagon IL tina
usual form of conveyance furnished.
many children are transported by
railroads. electric ears, automobiles,
and even by gasoline launches
Competent drivers are essential in
any plan for transportation. accor-
ding to the bulletin The character
tof the driver Ia so important t1at
State legislation in some instances
for example Wisconsin, requires that
each driver contracted with must be
CT excellent moral character. trust
| worthy, and responsible. and must
furnish a safe team with suitable con-
veyance.'
The kind IF wagons used is regard
ed so important that many States pur-
chase their cwn wagons and hire only
drivers and teams The best wa
CONS declares the bulletin. ." are
those where the driver sits inside
with the children. and where there
are glass rides instead of curtains. "
In cold weather rugs ard lap-robes
are used. and sometimes the wagons
are heated hv means of old stoves.
The cos per pupil for transporta-
ton. as given by the bulletin. ranges
from 10 10 Ia cents per day. The
average expense for tho school year
III about So pnr pupil
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
SALEM BOOSTERS"
PLAN BIG MEETING
NOVEL PROGRAM AND AN AID
DRESS OF NORMAN III.
JOHNSON.

Those who remember SO pleasantly
the recent address of Judge Cassen.
of Radford, who came TO Salem, I'M
der the auspices of the Merchants
Association will be interested to know
that these busy local boosters have
arranged still more interesting pro-
gram for next Thursday evening. Feb
ruary %, when Mr.. Norman Fl. john
son, OF Richmond, editor of the Mer-
chants Journal and Commerce and
one OF the South's greaest boosters,
will make an address in the court
house beginning at s o'clock. says
the Salem Times Register. Mr.. John
son Is very attractive speaker who
IL full of his subject. and his address
alone would be sufficient attraction
10 insure a ihrge attendance, but the
association is working with one aim
in view--to bring, the people of Sa-
lem together In better spirit of CO.
operation for the material advance
ment Of the community, and to fur
Their this spirit they have provided
some other features for the evening
which will prove Of unusual pleasure
and We might say, profit to those
who attend.
For one thing. the members OF the
assocla ton want 10 give some ex-
preston of their generous interest in
the object before them, and while
the admission will be free and the
public is cordially invited. numbered
tickets will be given to each adult
who attends and large number of
valuable prizes contributed by the
members OF the association will be
given free 10 the holders Of the lucky
numbers. The prizes will include
sacks of flour hams. pocket knives.
gloves. and many useful articles.
This feature will no doubt create
much interest and merriment, espec-
tally IL some chronic old bachelor
should happen to receive pair OF
baby shoes.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21

from North to South. and few rea-
lize the tremendous advantages that
must accrue. At least one district
I'm the county, La Crosse, has caught
the spirit of the mivement and the
district road board has erected neatly
painted ans lettered mile posts
throughout her part of the route and
have also marked the line between
MecbIenhurg and Brunswick Counties.
The other districts will follow suit
very shortly. as will also Brunswick
County.
In another respect Mecklenhurg has
been fortunate. She has been select
ed by the United States government
as one OF he seven counties in the
state In which facts and figures VIII
be collected and tabulated to show
lust how much In dollars and cents
the counties have been benefited by
the expenditure Of road funds This
survey in Mecklenburg County has
not yet been completed. hut IL Is safe
to predict that the results will show
n large annual dividend on the amount
invested.
A similar survey in Spottsylvania
~
41.696, or sil. 800 saved annually in
hauling over roads which cost $780,
900 to construct II is unlikely that
Mecklenburs will show large ii divi-
lend by reason OF the fact that her
principal money crop. bright tobacco,
weighs less per dollars worth than
any other crop In the South.
Or this account the tonnage hauled
over her improved roads WIN snow
up relatively small
While this article is written pri-
marty in regard to Mecklenbure
roads, 1t would seem excusable to say
a word in regard to the writer's home
town. South Hill Is the center from
which five improved roads radiate
and the town has already profited
greatly by the construction OF the
roads The national highway runs
through the principal street Of the
town. This street was built with selee,
gravel soil laid extra width and extra
thickness 1t has stood the heavy
traffic admirabl well, and the dust
nuisance has been probably less than
with ordinary water-bound macadam
The town has population Of some
500 or 1000. and Is a considerable
bright tobacco market. In their in
tercourse wit beach other. business
social and religious. the people dwell
together In unity. and there IL scant
room or tolerance for the knocker
The towns ertesian water system
electric plant, and modern hotel are
ia few Of the testimonials Of its pro-
gressive spirit. The unwritten motto
Of the town If, "a long pull, a strong
pull. all together"
In behalf OF the citizens Of Neck.
ienburK County the reader Is extended
q most cordial invitation to come
where good roads lead from good
farms to good tOwns
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
PUT CITY PLANNING
EXHIBIT DOWNTOWN

Thanks to the efforts OF a far-see-
ing Mayor and a broad minded City
Council, Richmond is TO soon see
and profit by the National City Ian
ming Exhibit.
The benefit to he derived from such
lesson in the control of city growth
is so r1uch more than commensurate
with the cost entaiied that 1T makes
us wisl. that other great benefits could
be had SO cheapiy.
Now that it is certain that Rich
mond is to have the exhibit, let us
hope that II will be located down
town in some place easily accessible
to the people whom we hope to in
fuence by Richmond.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
BANKER FARMER IS
FOR COOPERATION
PLATFORM uF FARMER-ETN ANtIAE
PAPER CALLS ALL
TOGETHER.


Farmers nave peet ur|eo 90 W
oPerat anu 'hey arc tai us re-
ing now hut 90 you h"o" ''e N"''N
efs are also Cooperating '1iV " IL ''.0
ioea 81 heIpAhe t"e it'' t'et Ai'V
same bankers aSsoCia'ions t.@t u99"
70 beHeFe SO H!Neo Al pVAI'to@i p@' 1te7
ana saoseftpe large sums !" t"ih
palgh Iuhas ara NC" putting "o"eS
INTO eduea'ioh-
They say that salvation by eduCa-
ton, practical worth wniie education
for children and grown ups In much
safer and surer than salvation by iegss-
lation. And they say this In just az
true for big business and bankers a.
II is for producers and consumers Of
any economic class. So the bankers
are cooperating more and more with
the farmers 10 help make country life
more pleasant and profitable
They puhItsh = tftffa monthly maya.
xi-,a rai,ea tte Farmer and
Istalv thev nrtuted in it their Mat
form when ven read II Won viii think
thar NAV be If we keep on working
we car make this old world q Mt place
~ tive IN after a while. The farmers
voice calling for these things used tf
have a very lonely sound
These are nor alone the farmers
proh,ems The AFFECT the whole ma.
lion and folks are coming 10 see that
In Europe they are waginr war O.
destruction. If any cause came we II
America vo,,1A an ra41<. 10 the com
mon defense. Well. there is ami,
cause here now for n big war of con.
strueYior and permanent undertaking
we farmers are willing to flzht IN thu
front ranks and take the hot aghtinS
but we want the support Of all classes
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
CARRIAGE BUILDERS
GOOD ROADS PIONEERS

The very successful convention OF the
American Good Roads Congress. held
in Chicago December II to IS. calls
to mind the fact that the frst ovgni-
zation OF national Importance TO ad-
yoeats seriously the construction OF
better highways was the Carriage
Builders National Association. whose
first meeting was held In New YORK
in the autumn OF ls7e, says Southern
Good Roads.
Al this meeting a committee was
appointed whose business II was -
study the road question and make such
recommendations for hettetments OF
highways as seemed expedient. This
committee has been continued without
an interrnission during the forty-three
years that have passed fnce that meet
ing was held. many of their recon :
mendations having been carried into
effect to the immense Improvement of
the roads and the consequently more
rapid growth of the vehicle industry
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
HOW UNITED STATES
ROSE FROM OCEAN

An Interesting exhibit which Will be
shown by the United States Geologi-
cal Survey at the Panama Pacific Ex-
position in San Francisco. will be the
illustration OF the development of the
surface features OF the United States
and adjoining landslide gradual rise
of the continent from the primal ocean
and the accompanying development OF
life--a pictorial story of progress from
the early fish and the huge half-reptile
creatures known as saurians to the
higher mammals such as the great
saber-tooth tiger and the giant hyena.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
,sNlrED STATES IS WORLDS
LARGEST COPPER PRODUCER

The United States Is by far the
largest copper producer in the world:
n fact, we produce more than all the
rest OF the world together. Tl>e
Growth. OF the copper industry In the
United states has been notable. ac-
cordinr to figures compiled by the
Tfnfted States Geological Survey. In
1al5 the production was $4,000 pounds:
Il 1913 II was 1.224.4s4.0sS pounds. Tho
total production Of the United States
from 1850 to 1919 was 1885,, 47s,91o
pounds
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
AWARD CONTRACTS
| FOR BETTER ROADS
HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT ACTIVE
TIES CONTINUE THROUGHOUT
THE SOUTH.

Paving for streets and the laying of
curbing and cutters and sidewalks in
many cities In the South, and a con-
tinued work of Improvement of high
ways through suburban and rural dis
tricls are noted In the weekly review
presented by the Manufacturers Record
this week. The summary of operations
follows:
Bonds Voted.
Bryan, Tex.--City voted 81, 900 bonds
to pave streets.
Maryviilc, Tenn.-Blount County
voted $500. 900 bonds to grade and ma
cadamize roads.
Pineviile, ky.-Ben County voted
$3.50, 600 bonds TO construct roads and
bridges
Bonds TO Be voted.
Union S. .C.--Jnion County votes
April on 100000 bonds TO construct
roads.
Port Lavaca, Tex.--Calhoun County
Seadrift Road. District viii vote on
$50. 900 bonds to complete road
Gate City. ya-scott County, Taylor
District. votes March on $4,000 bonds
to construct roads
Kountz Tex.-Hardin County load
b3NlEItA Nv kOLES II cur Qdl ~ O1s
$3.50. o00 bonds to construct roads.
Victoria. Tex,--City votes March 20
ON $4,000 bonds 10 improve streets.
WEIGH w Na.-MeDoweN County.
Big Creek Magisterial District. votes
March 90 on s165,oo0 bonds TO con-
struct roads.
West Palm Beach. F'la.-~Paim Reach
County votes March % on 100000
bonds to construct roads, etc
YadkinvilIe, n. C.-Yadkin County
votes March rs on s2oo,Qoe bonds TO
improve roads, etc
Contracts Awarded
Baltimore. Md.--City awarded S1as.5ss
contract to grade and pave with granite
blocks on concrete base second section
OF Key Highway; $500 linear feet.
Baltimore. Md.--City awarded $500
contract TO grade portion OF Woodbury.
Avenue,
Baltimore, Md--state awarded Sac
7T2 contract TO construct concrete
! roads.
Baltimore. Md city awarded sl7.-
soo5o contract to rave streets and al
ieys with granite blocks and vItr.fted
brick.
]. Mckinney. Tex--City awarded con-
tract for $4,000 square yards paving
Palo Pinto, Tex.-~paie Pinto County
awarded $aa.s0a contract 20 improve
roads tn District No. I. aggre eating
SGT miles on nine roads
San Marcos, Tex. 1900 Hays County
awarded s5.5es contract TO construc;
6 , miles OF road
Smithheid, y. C.---Johnson County.
Ingram township awarded contract 10
construct roads costing $4,000.
Contracts to he Awarded.
Baltimore, Md.--Cfty receives bids
until March for $4,000 square feet OF
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
United states Coal Output.

The amount of coal mined in the
United States In 1913. according to
figures compiled by the United States
Geological Survey. was greater by So
100000 tons than the total which had
been mined UP to the close Of the
year 1871.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21
GOOD SIGNS FOR
REAL ESTATE MEN
MUCH ACTIVITY IN SALES, LOANS
AND BUILDING SHOWN
DURING WEEK.
FEBRUARY GOOD MONTH
EACH OF NEXT FEW MONTHS
SHOULD BE BETTER THAN PRE-
CEDING ONES, Is PREDICTION.
AMONG DEALS MADE.

with "a rippr like hundred
.he,,sa,,d 5ollarq in dneas of harsain
ava snln sa5rg 70 tbe fles 81 tho citv
,,,5 .o,ut,, ,coI,rtS fo,. recordatior an.
tr,r tha week it,st rtosed pichnona
roll estate ,nen exnrezx themselves
a. oleased Win Tho xbculng thnngh
t3,ei..say tbat tho raaunntior op
f,,s},,exs hss mt ,,et develonea IN ss
rr,..at b, ,,11r,,a az, tha,l antirtnetaa for
80 ,.,,.t,. f',t,,rs
Rt7l'S Hieh gay tiiey are llhoihs tias
business Is SoHtihuaIiy improving anu
-A4- II Is NOW pelter imam IL Was
. 4 IH'A'A ab'' ttidt eae'i % the heAs
: nc" tao"1H7 wa SHOW iiapfoNcias
VFst thT p'sGS1ihs mont, is the oe
ll',i itt'hIS n%la oy those VINO are rheFs
C'oseiy watched the sitha'ioh'
far, has proven itself the month of
the real Weakening in real estate, and
if the present state of business con-
tinues throughout the remainder OF
the month. February will show an
increase in total business done over
the corresponding month in recent
years.
Many Signs of Activity.
Both CITY ana suburban realty are
in good demand Many inquiries are
being made. also fore choice farm
/
and with money much easier than In
months a great deal of II is being
placed on good real estate.
Another good sign liz the large num-
her Of building permits, for both i'm
provements or repairs. and new work.
that is now being issued daily. The
report of Building Inspector Butler,
for the month. TO be issued in about
week will show that operations ara
much larger this year than last, and
/ II Is probable that the figures for
1913. a good year, viii be exceeded.
Considerable interest is being shown
( in the probability of the early reaii-
cation of the completion of Monument
Avenue through to the Three Chopt
road The matted Is shortly to go
before Council and II is expected that
those property owners along the Iine
not already done so will dedicate tho