Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-05
WASHINGTON HIGHWAY
+. NOW OPEN TO TOURISTS
Famous Chappawamsic Section (
Be Completed by
August IS.
WALKER RETURNS FROM TOUT
secretary OF Automobile Club Keeps
In Close Touch With Situation,
and Can Advise Tourists IL Detours
VIII Be Necessary.

and Can Advise Tourists II Detours
VIII BE Necessary.
Through G. p. slime. general secre-
AIRY OF the Chamber OF Commerce of
he city OF Fredericksburg. the Rich
nond Automobile Club has been in
ormed of number Of interesting facts
n connection with the Richmond
Washington Highway which have not
zen generally known. Mr.. Slime re-
entity called on the Chief Engineer
u Public Roads. in Washington. with
eferencc TO the unfinished section OF
ne highway, generally known as the
fhappawamsic Swamp section. As
istant Engineer V. NJ. Pierce entered
nto details by referring to the contract
With Parkinson and Finn. of Peters
'urg. Tho contract called for tho com
'lction OF the work by January !, 1917.
ut on account OF conditions beyond
ontrol. the agreement with the gov
rnment q. AZ amended extending the
inc for the completion of the swamp
ection for period OF sixty weather
'orking days from March /. which
xtended 1t to July "a. Since that date
penalty OF $40 Ter diem has been
em"nded until this road. or rather
his swamp stretch OF three quarters of
10 t7iiiC iNhb
ne contract, in which Is incorporated
n Indemnity bond of $4,000.
The public has been under wrong
npHssion In believing that this por-
lon OF the Richmond Washington
Highway was being rebuilt directly by
he Virginia State Highway Commits
lon. The government contributed Sl0.-
90 owards the construction OF the
warp territory. and the citizens of
Irt, yaI AZ
Then $4,000, Il total Of $4,000. The
hly!ondition upon which the govern
Eent would contribute was that II
houl have entire charge and supcrVi-
don I the work, which has been part
l. d2yed on account Of weather con-
titio, during the past six weeks. II
Is nv stated that this part OF the
ioadhould be completed by August Is.
and is hoped that the State High
way commissioncr VIII use his in
Guen In this direction.
TIL State Highway Commission as
surnethe responsibility with the gov
ernnnt through the office Of Public
Road for the completion OF another
part OF the Richmond Washington
Highny-that section between Ma
runs and Neabsco Creeks-a stretch
OF the and one-haif miles between
Occotan and Dumfries. by arranging
10 scare Tie ust VI my ~ 'h
this ection while the Public Roads
Commission viii provide the $4,000
cash eeded.
Athe same time the government
will approve the road '~om Dumfries
to cnect with Quantico, distance
OF 70, miles. The contractors who are
workg on the swamp are also build
ing It's road. which. when completed
will ring fredericksburg in direct
stateothat when the road was finally
compted it may become through
post nd 10 Richmond. I, must be
bornein mind that Prince William
Count has not contributed anything
towa.s the completion OF the roads
in tha county.
Sec,tary St.ne was informed that
the capabilities are that the swamp
sectio' will be completely restored by
Augu. Is, and the other portion of
the rcd by December ]. this part be-
ing ptsable at any time and is not
afrect( by the rains like the swamp.
II is ,afc therefore. for tourists to
make be trip from Richmond to Wash
ingtor since the bad section has been
reducd to such a short distance. and
this i.passablc.
Mar tourists continue to visit Rich
mond In spite Of bad stretches on
nearIN every nlEu"hS iSatih6 'HNS
Richmnd. The Richmond Automobile
Club or some months has devoted
it's ebrts to the Improvement OF
the rads. and at the same time to
mappig out routes OF detour that the
bad RAIDS might be evaded. Some sec
lions 81 nearby counties while on
highwys are now being avoided by
takini these detours.
AUTNOBILE CLUB KEEPS
VOnI[
Recently Secretary W. r. Walker
and nomas a. Gebhardt. of the Rich
mond Automobile Club. drove TO Fred
erioksurg, where they were joined
by II, Stuart Roger. city manager; c.
z. FGard. city treasurer; and c. =.
StmA secretary of the Chamber OF
CsLAssrce. for trip to the Chappa-
wa.hat swamp section of the Rich
mrnaTashinGton Highway. They
spent fome time looking over the i'm
provefents being effected. and made
severI photographs that show con-
ditioni in the missing link on the
high9y. The superintendent Of the
work of improvement keeps Secretary
Walkr informed as to travel condi-
tions in the swamp. so that tourists
maS Sc advised on their arrival in
Riot6ond.
l. ldal wave of the gospel of good
r3ASs, seems to be in evidence right
now. SThree candidates for the high
Est oshce in the State are pledging
their efforts for the building and
,Aainuining of highways through the
State-i Local boards OF supervisors
are making appropriations for i'm
provenents in their districts. Tho
pov>rament has pledged funds along
<fh handsome subscription by the
of Commerce Of Petersburg
aud cooperation OF the Chesterfield
Iounty Board of Supervisors for the
Of three miles of concrete
roadway from Petersburg to Swift
GEEK ofhcers of the State Highway
will cooperate with rho
boards of supervisors OF Warwick and
Fork Counties in road improvements
hat will give good automobile roads
Lom Richmond to Newport News and
Yorktown.
VIRGINIA SIM IISn DIC01-.--