The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-07
.AUTOISTS TO ASSIST
IN BUILDING DRIVE
President Peters of Common Council Has Cooperation of
Several of His Colleagues and He Expects Good Sized
Appropriation In Budget-Dealers Behind
Movement.

President Peters. Of the Common
Council has engaged the assistance
OF several OF his colleagues in an eff
fort TO do something toward the build
ing of Riverside Drive. He expects
a good-sized appropriation IN the next
budget
IN will lake about s225.000 to GO
Through with the Riverside Drive pro-
gram and the money might as we'll he
appropriated now as 10 wait until some
time In the future. The Admiuistra
tive Board has made one start in
the vicinity Of CANDLES Hill ana
have bulit . retaining wall Al Fifth
y Street Now il Is ~ 10 the Council
To appropriate enough money to cN-
tend the drive through Hollywood
Cemetery, az around il. through River,
Side Park 8nd Rlverview Cemetery. as
weil as Mount Calvary. connect II with
Nlii8a III Byrd Park and the pump
~noa-a ana then continue 1t up the
elve~ go The setting basin.
.'Tss~e - no reason Why the huiid-
4Anx a. ,et ~o@sa Should re; 20 forward
SA3S ye&r
n C@ae~sf Manager Monte I. stone
at sae Il. s1enj Automobile Dealers
S>aw- Incorporated. says that motor
ESss r genera and dealers in par;icu-
k&~ So Een1 t1e-F Support TO the
es wua.& &a@ ~ discuss he matter
Ak E>sss reads r5e1e.- which VII prob
aEay ez ST. aside ree week - the c.g
ssst1 show l~ -se ti-ays A*n4ogy. Jan
asTy = t1 Fear -ary Tse show as
500 &s3lr Is g.y-rE "a great deal OF at
se7tso- to tHe g=a# raaas movement
ard ir -lrae 1#t e0#y expects 10 take
ap the J. ferss5s Drive matter bat 10
4s.esss w. p 5ss ali sess-i7
80
VIII Have Cooperation.
In this The show association vii
rot only. nave the Support Of the mem
hers OF tae Richmond Automobile
Club bat the residents who live along
these highways and who have been
loud IN their complaints
The Petersburg Turnpike has long
z been the hane of local motorists To
< be sure Stone. general manager. made
a record breaking trlp over 1t when
s he brought Il prisoner here for safe
Keeping from an Infatuated lot Of Pc
tersburg citizens. but the fact remains
that the roads are in poor shape.
The Administrative Board has taken
measures to have il improved from
Hull Street to the city line and the
II supervisors all along the turnpike to
the confines OF Petersburg itself have
done ali they can to raise money TO
3
couldn't get money they took a day S
u work.
For that matter motorists say other
roads around Richmond could be i'm
proved with much benefit not Only
Y 10 motorists in general but residents
IF particular sections. like Forest Hill.
y Bon Air on the Southsde and Bar
Y ton Heights Highland Park and be-
yond the city limits ON the Northside.
The south bank of the river is no
3 less picturesque than the Northside
a and motorists declare that If the
money could only be raised to i'm
prove the roads. Richmond would
soon have on the south side of the
river more than one colony that would
vie with Westhampton in beauty and
situation. Those who have cars would
ike 10 live in the country and ride to
s. business in the city. Good roads is
= the most important step in this direc-
/. lion.
4 Reports have come to Manager
q stone that the peninsula highway from
Richmond 10 Newport News and old
Point Comfort is SO badly out OF re-
pair that 1t needs immediate atten-
-fo1,
Few Are Able to Travel Road.
The worst stretch Il il said is be-
tween New Kent Courthouse and Bar
Evansville, This part Of the road is one
u of the most picturesque along the en-
tire h}shWuy and enthusiasts say 1t
is not surpassed in this regard in all
Virginia. However. few are able to
travel over it now without complaint
and one mo1orist goes so far as to de-
clare that traps are being set for the
unwary. He says that the road is cut
up purposely to ditch cars so that the
mules of tlae- nearby residents may be
--enl lllnA ed Ia drag the unfortunate car
s. into the road again.
This statement at one time was
made officially TO the Richmond Auto
& mobile Club and it is repeated tn the
4 members OF the Richmond Autumq-
bile Dealers Show, Incorporated. The
latter may take it up in executive ses-
sion at an early date. probably right
after the automobile show. In the
v meantime they are going TO see what
can ho done To improve conditions
along the highway in New Kent Coun-
ty. The attention Of the supervisors
will be called 10 the matter and AN
EFFORT will he made to raise perma
nent fund to inaintain the highway.
Road maintenance has been the big
problem in road building, Manager
Stone says He adds that when a road
wears out nobody seems to blame and
everyone biames everyone else. All
personal responsibility disappears, he
saws Manager Stone Is of the opinion
& that a maintenance fund should be
started with the building of the road,
In the fashion adopted by the Rich
mond Washington highway builders,
The chief claim to distinction for the
Richm ond Washington highway is
this: 1t is the first road in the State
for which a permanent maintenance
q fund is provided. All other roads
have been built and left 10 wear out,
which roads have a fashion OF doing.
Once a road wears out the supervisors
have TO go begging for help TO get the
aroad back in shape and everyone the
supervisor approaches Immediately
tells him that he already has con-
stributed his share to the building of
8the road and does not see why he
SHOULD be called upon to do SO any
more
That IS why President Henry W,
Henderson, of the Richmond Washing
sfon highway, insisted upon setting
abide one-ffth Of all money CON
xributed 10 build the highway so that
1t might be maintained properly once
At was built. As more than $50, 000
has been collected right here in Kich-
snond. the road starts off with a So
600 reserve fund for maintenance.
Plays Prominent Part.
s$e What part has the automobile in