Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-10
ROAD BUILDERS HEAR
INTERESTING ADDRESSES
Commissioner Coleman Tells q
Work Of State Highway
Department.
ENORMOUS SUMS BEING SPENT
superintendent Of Public Instruction
II. G. Stearncs Discusses Relations
OF Good Roads to Good Schools.
Program for To-Day.


phys Hotel. At least sevcnty-ivc had
arrived in time for the morning scs-
sion. and nearly as many more were
in before nightfall. 1t is reported that
nearly 200 will be on hand this morn
ing.
Many speakers OF prominence were
on the program yesterday. The FIRST
session began with prayer by Rev. J.
!. bowman, ID. d.. rector OF All
Saints Episcopal Church. and follow
ing the address OF welcome to the city
by w. L. Dabncy, Business Manager of
the Chamber of Commerce. talks were
made by II. G. StcnrneS. State Supcrin :
tendent OF Public instruction, and Col
, onel Lucius Gregory. member of the
Board of Supervisors or Mecklenburg
County.
STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER
COLEMAN MAKES ADDRESS
The feature OF the afternoon session
was an address by George L. Coleman.
State Highway Commissioner. He was
followed by Senator George Latham
Fletcher. who talked on the Sources of
revenue for Road Construction and
Maintenance. discussion of this
topic was led BY John Crosby, clerk Of
tho Augusta County road board IL. G..
Shirley, chief engineer OF the Mary
land State Roads Commission. spoke on
Road Maintenance" and a. II. Petit
grew, assistant engineer of the state
Highway Commission. led the discus
sion OF the points brought out. ses-
sion was held at night for the mem
bers OF the association only. at which
subjects intimately connected with the
organization were discussed.
President w. +. Cooke, OF this city,
presided over the sessions. which are
being held in the auditorium of Muir
phys Hotel In his opening address
he made IL clear that the convention
was intended as "a clearing house for
practical ideas. He urged that earnest
consideration be given to the question
OF road maintenance. The eXpendi-
lures CT the past few years. he said.
Will be OF no avail unless the work is
kept up.
STEAHNES SAYS GOOD
ROADS MEAN GOOD SCHOOLS
Mr.. Stearncs spoke on Road I'm
prorement in Its Relation to the Pub
lie Schools" He based his remarks on
observations not only In this country
but in Europe, and drew COMPARE
son between the roads OF Virginia and
those in France. He pointed to the
enormous mileage OF the French roads
as compared with the United states,
and showed how a horse In the former
was expected to haul a 3.300-pound load
twenty miles day over a rolling coun-
try. while a 1000 to l.4OO-pound load
under the same conditions was all that
was expected here. He then lead up
10 the main question, and pointed out
that the consolidation OF country
schools. modern movement OF great
Significance. depends wholly on roads
Real consolidation, he said. is insepa-
rably linked with transportation
Thousands of school children have
already been added to The schools. he
said. by the work done in tho past few
years. blu, much more is necessary be-
fore all can be reached
commissioner Coleman made n strong
address. in which he appealed for CO.
operation of all Interested In good
roads 10 secure legislation which will
provide Tor the maintenance and re-
pair systematically OF highways after
they are constructed. The difficulty in
impreSslng county authorities with the
necessity OF maintenance was point ed
out The making OF long-term bonds
Tor road construction. and the subsc-
quent neglect OF the roads he said re-
suited in tn. counties in few wears
having debt and nothing TO show for
H. ROADS sometimes, he continued did
not last half as long as the life OF
the bonds
COLEMAN REVIEWS WORK
OF HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER
The work OF the State Highway Com
mission for the past eight years was
uCoSi'oSu ny commissioner Coleman.
Tie showed how S@,3l6OO0 had been
contributed by the State under the con-
Wet road law, TO which the bonds Is
sued by the counties brought the sum
total up TO Ss.99l.l00. Nearly $1,000
600 OF this money is still to be cx-
pended, he said
Commissioner Coleman gave a com
plete resume OF the work and duties
OF his department. and defined its now
ers ana powers of tho county road
authorities. While statistical to a
marked degree, his address was highly
instructive TO the road builders. and
was much appreciated. His recommen-
dalton that the automobile taxes be
devoted to maintenance fund was
well received.
There will be two sessions to-day.
and with the election of officers the
convention Will adjourn. Tomorrow
morning. however, those delegates who
remain. Will be taken on an inspec-
ton tour OF the work now being done
by the city OF Richmond
INTERESTING ADDRESSES
ON To-DAY'S PROGRAM
the program for the day follows:
10 a. M.-"Nceded Traffic Regula-
lions on Through Country Roads," c. b.
Scott, Assistant State Highway Com
missioner OF Virginia; discussion opened
by Eugene Allen, clerk Of Center Dis
trict. Road Board of Fauuuier County.
Bituminous Construction" c. s. Reeve,
assistant chemist, office of public roads,
washington, ID. c.: discussion opened
by c. l.. Scott, highway engineer, Au-
susta county. Va. "Sand-Clay Con-
struction' II. q. Dnrfey, superintendent,
State Highway Commission; discussion
opened by S. L. Won Gemmingen. assist
ant engineer. State Highway Commits
sion.
2:3o p. M.-"FTighway Bridges and
CulVerts." c. d. Snead. bridge en-
glneer. Virginia State Highway Com
mission. Road Building from Con
tractors Viewpoint" r. G. Lassiter,
Oxford. ~ G. Motion pictures. Vir-
ginia Road Builders Association-Re-
porto Of committees. 1914; reports Of
officers. 1914: election of officers, 1915.