The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-14
ROADS, COMMITTEE
MEETS HERE TODAY
win Consider Plans for State sys-
tenn Of Highways to he Presented
to Next Legislature.
NO PUBLIC HEARINGS
Many Routes Suggested, Among Them
Being the Middle and Stage Route
Between Petersburg and SUFFOLK.

aiany interesting briefs have been
submitted the state legislative roads
committee. which meets here today
to consider plans for state system
of highways, among them being the
Petersburg Suffolk short route. known
as the middle" route, between Peters
burg and Suffolk, and the other being
the old stage route. from Rich
mond to Norfolk. which parallels the
James river. These, are already in
the hands of the committee, and will
be considered today.
Chairman Goolrick. of the commit
tee. has announced that the meeting
today will be private. ana given over
to the consideration of plans already
furnished. During the convention of
the Virginia Road Builders associa-
ton held in Norfolk la~ month, the
committee gave public hearings, at
which many briefs were submitted.
and these will be carefully gone over.
Persons having any other plans they
would like to submit may leave them
at the Office of Commissi George
p. Coleman, OF the state highway de-
partment
The members of the committee are
a follows: Senator G.. O'Connor Cool
rick. chairman. Fredericksburg: Sem
ator A. Willis Robertson, Buena Vista
t'Ftttbuf mart I i1otI bAII. " MT HleS-
ter. Delegate Berkeley d. Adams. Red
Oak; Delegate J Sinclair Brown, Roa-
noke; Delegate X. II. Gilpen. BoiCe,
Delegate Norvel J.. Henley Williams
burg. and Corn Missioner George p
Coleman, of the state highway depart
ment.
Present sreument.
The Petersburg Suffolk Short Route
Good Roads association have present.
ed TO the committee for adoption
brief outlining their contentious for
the adoption Of the middle" route as
4 part Of the state system There are
two other routes suggested FOR the
highway between Richmond and Nor
folk. known as the stage" OF river"
route and the fridge" and Southern"
rolta----T The Advocates of the middle
route claim that it * ten to fifteen
miles shorter than either OF the other
two routes suggested. and that its con-
struction can he made al less cost
than either OF the other routes
L is further claimed that the mid
die" route Ia the most central and di
rect route. ana II can serve the whole
state as We'll as the total population
OF the local counties 10 the best ad-
vantage. They viii also assert that IL
links Together the most important
rural mail distributing points between
Petersburg and suffolk. and now is
being used all the way between the
two cities for the transportation Of
the mails. In addition. il has already
been adopted as she official auto
mobile route between Petersburg and
Suffolk for the Richmond Norfolk
tour. ana. as such, Is listed in the
Automobile Blue Book"
Considering the question of cost,
hz 4 rfa
committee states. the advantages pos
sessed by the middle" route for as
semhlng building materials over the
Norfolk and Western railway along
Its entire length are not equalled by
any Of the other routes. AS this road
is TO form a part Of a permanent state
highway system. Il is reasonable 20
assume that sooner or later high
class bed will be constructed With
the exception Of gravel (Which is
available IN varying quantities along
each Of the proposed routes), mate
rials TO buid a high class road Will
have to be brought in from other
sections Of the state. The advantages
Of the middle" route in being able to-
utilize the facilities of the Norfolk
and Western railroad IN this connec-
ton are obvious. Then, 100. being
from ten to fifteen miles shorter
tll'at}S hItaA iiS IA -tisi~S t'SN tdf' 'fF
built over this route at saving of
from Si00 GEO to 5000 600 with a cor
responding saving in the cost Of MAIN
;enance.
But One Grade Crossing.
At only one point on this route, as
proposed by the Petersburg Suffolk
Short Route Good Road association. is
there grade crossing that will have
TO he abolished to insure the safety
OF the travelling puhlic-the crossing
ar New Bohemia. The crossings in
the towns of Waverly and Wakefield
are easily protected by gates, Be
tween Petersburg and Zuni the other
crossings are either overhead or
underground: while between Zuni and |
Suffolk it is proposed 10 run straight |
through without crossings, on the !
north side of the Norfolk and Western |
tracks All of the existing bridges /!
along this route are steel except the !
one over the Blackwater at Zuni |
which, however. can be replaced. If
necessary. at com paratively small ex-
pense"
"Old Stage" Route Advocated.
on the other hand many persons
are advocating the adoption of the |
stage line route from Petersburg to
Suffolk This route Is also known as
the river route. and goes through
Prince George, Surry, Smithfeld TO
suffolk. 1t passed through many
towns and 1t is claimed would he ideal
as a part OF the state system of high /
ways
This route passes through some of
the most famous and eldest spots in
this section of the state, Ii is said
that there is difficulty to md any
where on one route such a wealth
of historic interest as il TO he found
on the old stage route. The route
passes old st. Luke's church, midway
between Suffolk ed SInithfield. This
church is one of the oldest of Protest
ant faith In this country. and always
extracts the attention of tourists. The
route also asses Bacon's Castle, a
famous landmark on the James.