Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-08
GOVERNOR CRAIG SENDS
GOOD ROADS MESSENGER
DIR. johnson Brings Personal Appeal
TO Stuart From Carolina
Executive.
SEEKS AID FOR BIG HIGHWAY
General Assembly VIII Be Asked to
Assist Seven Other States I'm Patch.
ing Weak Links OF Southern MAJ
tional Road.

DR.. S. NJ Johnson, OF Roswell. y. NJ.
who arrived in Richmond last night
and is n guest at the Jefferson Hotel,
VIII to-day carry personal message
from Governor Locke Craig. OF North
Carolina, to Governor Stuart, and ask
the Virginia Legislature to aid In hn-
ishing the construction Of the Southern
National Highway.
Last week the General Assembly of
North Carolina adopted resolutions con-
Heying greetings to the Legislatures Of
Virginia. Tennessee, Arkansas Tcxas
New Mexico. Arizona and California
and requesting that these States con-
JOIN their efforts in completing the
great Southern road.
DR.. Johnson will convey the resoiu-
tons TO Governor Stuart for transmits
sion to the General Assembly and will
cnheavor TO have them acted upon to-
day In order to emphasize the i'm
n"rtance OF the movement, Governor
craig sent Dr. Johnson here az his per
sonai representatives. in the hope that
working arrangement might be eff
fected whereby the strength OF the
eight States might be combined with
that OF the Federal government i'm
opening and completing the Southern
route.
NOT NOW IN CONDITION
FOR TOURIST TRAVEL
Ihough great part Of II is already
quit, DR.. johnson said that the South
erh National Highway is not at present
IN condition to warrant inviting tourist
travel Comparatively small areas in
Virginia, natably in Prince Edward
county; In North Carolina, Tennessee
and Arkansas arc still unimproved. and
practically impossible, said DR.. John
son, ana unless swift action toward
their Improvement be taken. 1t win
mean the loss Of millions OF dolia r.
when tourists begin their travels TO tho
Panamn-Pacifc Exposition in Cali
fornia.
The Southern Highway" said DR..
Johnson is in condition from Tex
Llama, Tex. to San Diego. Cal. ex-
cept for n small stretch of sand he.
tween Yuma. Ariz., and Ell Cen,ro C.I
Inc state of California is now snend.
ing an Its available highway fund in
completing this stretch. Ii has riven
,he southern route it's strongest in
oorsement, as California considers this
'hg pest route to Southern California.
mere ls n splendid road from San
Diego to Los Angeles and sam 80 n'i
eisGo. In all the other States the WORK
- oeihs fast completed II SCENE
aanse mat the most difficult problem
Niould lie in completing some thirteen
LILIES, principally in Prince Edward
haa.' which are almost under the
"' a. or the Washington monument
Ihat thirteen miles is the most In,
por'aht stretch of unfinished road In
tne united states. II is the rood over
MhIcn' when completed, all the auto
lI"fei or the Atlantic seaboard Statns
@ wara from Washington and north .
ward from Richmond, must mass vi
ginia has spent more than 81 ooo ooo :.
puliaing her section of the Southern
Highway, and has built her road 80
nc carolina line. all in the incredibIv
snort space of about eighteen months.
THIRTEEN MILES Of ROAD
NEED TO BE IMPROVED
me richmond Washington High WAY
corporation. OF which II. w. Andcrson
pi's'ueht mas raised $4,000 in Rich
hiond to help build this road arross tio
country counties which bnvc na,o ,ne
covered from the devastation or tho
war between the States With all mi,
oonc. there remains about tbirtaan
t' LOT the lack OF Improvement OF
men .he south seems about to lose
ner rigntfui share of the tourist trayol
IN" $50 is year OF years. because OF
inc TWO eXpositions on the Pacific
coast, and the fact that the 5000 600 :
oco which Americans annually spend
IN touring Europe must now be spent
in some less hostile field"
pr. Johnson said that It was n cues
tion of whether sufficient patriotism
could he aroused to raise Sa5 OOo IN
- ~" t''' 'uSh what III pr3c-
ticaily national cemetery. the most
sacred ground the nation Possesses
the oatt!enclds through which the road
shall run. He called attention to the
fact that about 100000 was raised
by voluntary subscription for the Lin
coin highway. and that the South re-
sponded generously to the call He
could See no reason why a fund should
not be opened to popular subscription
At once for the completion OF the un-
improved line In Virginia II this he
done, he believes that the Southern
National Highway will be completed
In time for the return travel from the
racine coast in October and November.