Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-03
VIRGINIA ROAD UNTITLED
FOR HEAVY MOTOR TRUCKS
Division OF Rural Mails Reports Rich
Notwithstanding Highway
In bad Condition.
PERFECT CONDITION FEASIBLE
From Richmond Forty Miles North.
ward Foundation Has Been Ne
elected Until Operation OF Trucks
on Schedule Is Impossible.
Especial to The Times Dispatch.

lNpeCldl 10 ne 1ttNcS- DiSpatCh.J
WASHINGTON, November "a sur
vey OF tho condition Of the roads be-
tween Washington and Richmond, In
connection with the proposed estab-
ii*hmcnt OF motor truck parcel post
service made by Mr.. Ryan. assistant
superintendent of division rural mails.
shows the highways In their present
condition arc unified for heavy trucks
although It is entirely feasible for them
70 be put in perfect condition
The following report by Mr.. Ryan.
made public tonight, indicates where
road building Is necessary:
Tho road from Washington to Ac-
cotink. Va. IL an excellent highway,
being tarbound macadam practically
the entire distance OF about nineteen
miles. From Accotink to I.orton the
road is in good condition. with the ex-
ception OF few rough stretches.
which would not seriously interiors
with regular travel. From 1.orton to
the town of Occoquan the road is fairly
good. and would OFFER no impeachment
TO regular travel. except that from tho
approach to the district workhouse to
the town OF Occouuan, IL distance of
about two miles, the road In full Of
loose stones and consequently quite
roEEh. This stretch OF road would not
offer any serious difficulty. but tho
loose stones on the two miles men
toned would operate 10 materially in
crease the cost OF Upkeep OF q car
running regularly over this stretch
oCCoaUAS TO DEMrRIEs
WORST STRETCH on LINE
From Occoqunn to Dumfries is the
worst stretch between Richmond and
Washington. This road for ak or seven
miles is In very bad condition On the
Trip to Richmond, which was made
during favorable weather conditions,
no dihiculty was encountered. except
the. necessity for travelling at n slow
rate of speed. From Dumcries OH to
Fredericksburg the road was found to
be hrst-class. From Fredericksburg to
ChilcsburE. distance OF thirt:- miles,
the road Is high grade and has tho
appearance or being carefully tended
From Chilesburg to Richmond. dis
TANGO Of forty miles. the road. while a
regularly constructed iard foundation
highway. has been greatly neglected.
and for Dracticaiiy the entire distance
with the exception Of two or three
miles on the outskirts or Richmond, Is
so rough that the operation Of 4 vehicle
on II regular schedule over this dis
tance. while possible, could only be
ACCOMPLISHED at "a cost for upliecp so
! excessive as to render tho conduct OF
such service utterly impracticable
For miles ~ a atretcn tho road is a
succession OF irregular pits. ranging
In diameter from Few inches to II
n.
Oh other stretches was found Il sue
ccssion of Transverse Eulleys, while 1t
other points tho road was nothing more
than a series OF watcr-holes and wash
outs. This condition obtains right up
to the city OF Richmond. with the ex-
ccption OF n few miles on the ntSktrts
where tho R!chm ond charlottesville
rond is encountered which IL an excel
lent macadam roaU
TREACHEROuS RI-vS nETWEI:N
RICHMOND AND FREDERICKSBURG
The return trip from Richmond was
made AFTER a heavy rain, which con-
tinned throughout the night and "A con-
siderable portion of the morning On
fredericksburg tho rain had, IL any
thing. improved conditions, except that
where thu deep ruts We're encountered
Il was imp rssiblc 20 know the depth
the car would drop into Il rut, owing
10 the fact that they were filed with
water. The road from Frederick burR
20 the chapwamsic swamp, which haa
4 stone foundation. also was, il any
thing. improved by the recent rains
hut difficulty was encountered when the
Chapwamsic swamp was reached. and
from there OH through the swamp and
over the new road which has recently
been completed between Lorton and
Quantico. These two stretches. while
found to be In excellent condition fol-
lowing the period Of favorable wenther.
were as result Of the rscent heavy
rains extremely dangerous to travel"