Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-13
BUSINESS MEN RESPOND
TO HIGHWAY MOVEMENT
Rapidly Organizing Themselves to
Raise Funds to Improve Rich
notwithstanding Pike.
AUTO DEALERS PLEDGE $1,000
Prominent Citizens Designated to
Apportion Donations Among Diff
ferent Lines Which Will Benefit by
Better Road to Camp Lee.

RealizinG the benefit accruing &c
them and the city of Richmond through
inc Improvement and maintenance Of
the Petersburg Richmond highway
the various business interests of this
city are responding whole heartedly
TO this project and arc organizing
among themselves for the purpose OF
raising the necessary amount OF money.
Only two days ago the retail merchants
decided to contribute $4,000. $4,000 OF
which has already been donated, and
committee was appointed to carry
on the campaign among the retail mcr-
chants of Richmond.
Following the lead of the retail
merchants. the automobile dealers had
a meeting yesterday, and We're ad-
dressed by w. T. Dabncy, who i'm
pressed upon them the urgent need OF
this road. and told them that the cx-
ecuiive committee of the citizens Of
Richmond had apportioned $1,000 as a
reasonable amount to be contribute ed
by them. They responded cnthusiastic-
ally and pledged themselves to raise
the amount.
WILL ORGANIZE: EACH
LINE or BUSINESS IN CITY
The executive committee. composed
Of II. Carl Boschen, chairman; J. NJ.
Miller. Jr, W. 5. Rhodes. Coleman
Workman. w. II. Schwarszchild. r. NJ.
Darlington. Hugh Antrim and w. 7.
Reed. Will look after. the expenditure
of money subscribed by the business
men of Richmond.
In order TO expedite matters the cx-
ecu;ive committee has appointed prom
inent business men in the different
business interests of the city and has
charged them with the duty or organ
izinE the men engaged in that particu-
lar husicnss Tor the purpose of ap-
portioning Il certain amount OF money
to be raised by them ana then TO re-
apportion the money among them
selves.
The following have been appointed
as representative of the business in
tercsts: r. L. Airport. automobile
dealers: T. NJ. Darlington. tobacco: j.
NJ. Miller. Jr., banks: w. Il. Connolly,
contractors: o. j. Sands, cement deal
crs: T.. Is. Sydnor. wholesale dry goods,
hats and notions; X. w. Powell. whole
sale druggists: II. Antrim. Wholesale
Sroccrs; .. +. Wcisigcr. hotels: Alvin
Nj. Smith and j. r. Palmatory. whole
sale hardware dealers; Alvin w. Smith,
thcatcrs and moving pictures: Thomas
:. Wheclrght. manufacturers: John
Stewart Bryan. newspapers; w. II.
SCH" iFSHCnllu, Tctail merchants: III. j..
Pollard. Jr and Motron Thalhimcr,
real estate; w. T. Reed and Coleman
WORKMAN. soft drinks and jobbcrs. ana
l.. Putncy, wholesale hoes
1t Will be the duty of these men to
call meetings of these business men
and decide upon the amount OF money
that they wish To contribute and then
appoint Il committee whose duty ii
shall be to collect this money. In this
/ 0
money will ho raised in Il few days
TRANSFORMATIONS FACILITIES
NOW TANED TO LIMIT
The executive committee in charge
of this campaign will appreciate vari-
Gus concerns giving these business
men, who have offered to look after
the various trades. prompt and liberal
consideration. This Improvement means
adequate transportation facilities TO
accommodate the transportation OF
goods and people between Camp Lee
and Richmond. The intcrurban cleo
tric line is now operating AT it's maxi
mum capacity. and the railroads are
using their sulplus passenger coaches
for government service in the trans
portation of troops These facts rem
der II necessary that this highway be
improved and maintained at once
There will soon he $4,000 men in
training III the cantonmcnt. not includ :
ing the officers and their families and
relatives who will visit tho camp, most
or whom will come to Richmond, with
the result that there will be great
| Increase in purchasing power added to
| this city. The amount of money TO be
paid 10 the soldiers and officers will he
S","oO,nOO monthly. and while much OF
this money viii he spent in Petersburg,
the natural result from abnormal bust
ness ana other economical reasons will
l." AN Increased demand Of goods from
Richmond jobhcrS and manufacturers.
If the merchants and other business
p"opi. Of Richmond respond at once,
and there is every indication that they
| Will then the highway is an assured
success. for the county supervisors
have appropriated $1,000 for this pur-
pose. and have offered the use of their
equipment and the road force to i'm
prove this road. The citizens of Peters
burg viii improve and maintain three
ana onc-half miles Of road from Peters
burg, and the Board or Aldermen Of
this city has already approved "A So
GOO appropriation TO aid in improving
the highway.