Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-13
Where Virginia Lays.

'~'S IoSos
You have them illustrated in the
Valley Turnpike, one of the oldas,
improved roads In the State. but he
who travels many Of the roads in
other parts Of the State and some OF
those in the Valley will realize tina,
the people Of Virginia should not be
satisfied. but, on the contrary. should
be shamefully dissatisfied with the
record Of Virginia, in road improve
nent. Statistics published by the
1914 show that. Of 1899 miles Of
country highways In the State, only
1892 miles, or So per cent, were
classed as improved Virginia Is far
behind many Of the States in this re
spect-indeed, even, on the statistics.
behind some OF tho other Southern
States.
Kentucky IL credited with 1873 per
cent Of improved roads, Georgia with
l4.9 per cent, and Alabama with Ill
per cent, as compared with Virginia s
SIS per cent. Massachusetts leads all
of the States with 51.2 per cent Of heI
total road mileage improved. The
statistics do not, however, tell the
whole story, for while there are
notably good roads in Virginia, II
must be confessed that the average
OF the roads in many parts of the Com.
monwealth is lower than the average
condition of the roads in several OF
the States to the South Of us to which
the statistics might seem to give Vir
sinia the supremacy. Any long-dis.
| lance automobilist who has toured the
South will tell you that, and tell you
| for / have seen II with my own eyes
Roads to Markets.
In saying this l am not advocating
the building and maintaining of roads
merely for the amusement Of the tour.
list owners of automobiles. On the
contrary. When the Valley Turn.
pike was built, the construction OF
what might be termed trunk line wag.
On roads was eminently a proper pol
Icy, for long hauls by wagon were
| then necessary Now, long distance
transportation Is by rail and water
and the country highway policy that
| will bring the greatest good to the
greatest number Is that of improving,
and, what is of equal importance. OF
Keeping improved, that is of main
taining, country roads radiating from
the market town or shipping station,
devoting the money first available for
construction to those parts Of the
roads nearest the central point and
building further out as funds can be
obtained. When this plan Is adopt.
ed, and the improved roads are ade.
quately maintained, the farmer living
IN any direction has a good road for
at least part Of his haul The pursu.
ance Of this policy throughout the
State Of Virginia would, In time, re-
suit IN covering the entire State with
network Of good roads.
| While looking back upon the work
u the men whose valor we common
rate today, let US look forward.
'ay to our work Of building up an
even greater and more prosperous
Virginia. The opportunity IL ours.
The task will not be easy, but il un-
iertaken in the spirit Of the men who
ought from Manassas to AppomattoX
md who with high courage set about
ebuilding in 1865, It can be accom-
,lished. If 1t is accomplished. as Il
hall be, then happy and prosperous
1irginians OF the future will look back
With pride and gratitude upon the
york that we have done In our genera
don Of industry as they must and will
dways look back with pride and graft.
tide upon the work Of the men who
vore the Gray. Surely that u . ~.
ard werth The GEy1y1A6