The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09
COMMITTEE STARTS
TO RAISE $4,000
FOR BETTER HIGHWAY
Determined to Put Petersburg Road
Into Excellent Condition At
Early Date.
BOTH CITIES TO ASSIST.
Broad Street Merchants Start SUBJ
stantial Fun6---Otlaer Plans to Pc
Worked Out At Meeting Tomorrow.

The committee appointed by the
citizens of Richmond to inaugurate a
campaign to raiae the funds neces-
sary for the reconstruction Of the Pc
tersburg turnpike will meet at the
Ruger hotel Monday at / o'clock to
discuss and complete the details OF
the plan TO. insure the success OF the
undertaking. Associated with them
at the meeting will be many OF Rich
mond's most influential and enter
prising business men.
The committee is composed OF she
following men: Fl. Carrie Boschen,
chairman: Coleman Workman. W. H.
Schwarxschild, w. S Rhoads w. T.
Reed. John NJ. Miller, Jr., r. B. ALI
port. Hugh Antrim. and w. T. Dab
ney. secretary.
The committee has met with en-
couragement everywhere. The first
formal step in the furtherance OF the
campaign wss made Friday Night
when the committee appeared before
the finance committee of the city
council In support OF Alderman r, l.
Peters resolution for the appropria-
ton of $4,000 by the city for the
I'm provement and maintainence of
the road from the city limits to a
point ten miles south. The county
Of Chesterfield has already appropri-
ated SIS 600 for this purpose. and as
sured the com usittee that their en-
tire road force and equipment would
he at once placed on the work. With
the endorsement OF the finance COM
mittee. it Is considered practically
certain that the resolution carrying
nF fhn will
be approved by the council. 50 the
sum to he raised by other means ia
reduced to $4,000.
- The initial project was that a model
concrete road, estimated to cost $780,
600. should be built from Richmond
TO Petersburg. This was under the
impression that the United States gov
eminent could be counted on to aid
materially In the construction OF the
road, It being generally supposed that
the government would stand half OF
the cost involved, A trip to Wash
ington by a committee OF Richmond
men disclosed that the government
could not be relied upon to render
any material aid. because most of
yirgfnia's apportionment for road
construction and maintenance was
already accounted for, A close study
OF the situation satisfied Richmond
men that $40 900 would be sufficient
TO put the road In f1rst-c1ass condi-
ton and maintain 1t for several years.
from a point four miles north of Pc
tersburg to Richmond. Petersburg
has agreed to repair and place In ex-
cellent condition the road leading
from Petersburg for a distance OF
four miles.
The work cut out for the executive
committee IL to raise the $4,000 yet
unsubscribed. Mr.. Dabney announced
yesterday. that, from the DEGREE of
success that has so far attended the
efforts Of the committee. It is safe to
say that the sum will be raised In rec
ord time.
The twenty Broad street merchants
who attended the conferences called
by w. H. Schwarsschfld FRIDAY after
noon voted unanimously that the sum
OF $1,000 should be subscribed by
the retail merchants OF the city The
merchants attending the conference
promised $1,000 OF the sum before
the meeting was adjourned.
The committee 10 Of the opinion
that the vast benefit. both direct and
indirect. to he derived by the COM
ana banking interests of the
CITY should Justify prompt and
cheerful response. IT IL estimated
by men who have made a. study OF
the situation that the Increased pur-
chasing power In Richmond will mean
many thousands Of dollars daily.