The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-05
AMERICAN HIGHWAY
OFFICIALS IN SESSION
Gar Shortage Problem Proves TO BE
Large Question Confronting Amerf-
can Road Builders.


which convened at the Jefferson yes
terday morning decided to complete
IT'S first days program by holding a
night session last night rather than
10 follow the entertainment program
mapped out for an evening at the
theater.
Yesterday morning the CON
vention was very heartily welcomed
tot he city by Mayor George Ainslie.
who delivered the welcoming address
In his usual gracious manner. The
mayor, in treating Of the roads ques-
ton, said that the Virginia people are
enthusiastic for good roads, but, that
their enthusiasm usually gives out be-
fore the roads are actually butt.
The mayors address was responded
10 by A. d. williams. of West Vir-
GINA. who in the course of his re-
marks showed how that progress and
prosperity would be linked together
by good roads.
The large feature OF the DAY was
the general discussion of the car sup
ply situation, it kbecominE apparent
that the recent order of the ra .iroa d
wer board requiring that opeu-top
cars should he used only for the
transportation of fuel and forhidding
their use for the handling of the usual
heavy supplies necessary in road con-
struction, had proven n serious blow
10 highway work Quarry deliveries
are delayed and It has become a very
serious problem for road ma kers to
secure supplies OF any kind.
Among those who spoke during the
morning and afternoon sessions we're
w. p. Uhler. OF Pennsylvania; 5. +.
Bradt. Of Illinois; w. s. Keller Of
Alabama: Charles NJ, Uphana, Of Della
ware; F.. r. Rogers, of Michigan and
Clinton Cowan, of Ohio
Last night there was an interest
ing discussion on the subject, Mill
tary Roads
The convention VIII continue
through TOMORROW.
President George r. CoIeuan's an
nual address delivered yesterday
morning contained a resume of the
work done during the year and fndi-
Gated that ruling might DE antici-
pated In the course OF q short time
from the war de parfment or the SUB
tect OF the use OF war prisoners on the
public roads. NJ. Coleman said in.
part:
Early in May. we took mp With
the war department the advls8hility
81 using war prisoners for road ptir
poses. and. after Il general discussion
Of the question, We were advised that
the secretary Of war was giving the
question of using these prisoners on
public work serious consideration.
On September eth I attended CON
ference or several higl way commits
sionerS. called by Mr.. Stag Within.
chairman executive council. national
committee OH prisons aud prison
labor at which time Nc prepared. at
the request Of Secretary - War
prisoners now in the country on pEh-
n works The administration h 8
NOT given a ruling on this important
question one which. / beiieve. will
"a far towards sreliefjnE tho proseut
labor conditions. particularly on read
work. ! trust that we Will have s
general discussion o. this question a.
this meeting
IN June, / took up with Senators
Cham berlin. Martin and Bankhea9
the Cham herlin-Dert marginal Hill
,the construction, for military par
poses Of a marginal highway by the
war depa rtrnent1.. have been adj
yised that this BIN will come up again
at the coming session Of congress.
and that there is cFery reason 10. be-
lteve. that il win be Ia~arAhly acted
ffpnn This too Ii IN, I'M pprtsnt
question which should FeeerVe cor
Sideration from us a. this time, and
we should determine lust what sup
port the association viii give this bill
'On June 18th. and again On July
Attn we had conference with the
car service committee OF the national
council Of defense 10 discuss the car
shortage situation and. II possible, TO
obtain some relief a letter cover
ing the result 81 this conference was
sent out TO the various departments.
.On Noyenfber fst. eee had a con-
ference with Mr.. kirtley assistant to
Judge Iovett. OF the priority commit
tee, covering their now famous order
No q affecting the shipment Of road
materials in open top cars. Mr.. Kirt :
ley was unwilling to give any promise
Of relief In this matter, simply stating
that they would use every effort 10
lift the embargo as soon as possible.
This question is the first topic on oar
program for this afternoon, and is.
undoubtedly, the most important
problem confronting the road inter
exts today
Possibly the most important aues-
ton which IL before Us at this time is
How can the highway departments
OF the various states best serve the
country In the present crisis p The
answer ia not an easy one. since prae-
ttcally all the forces or the world are
\ being used TO carry on the present
war, a war OF unparalleled horror,
hut also of such unparalleled justice
and right, SO far rs our nation is
concerned, that we cannot relax until
the triumph of our cause is complete.
All the energies OF man today are
given 20 the construction of engines
Of destruction. and our world seems,
in its effort TO save civilization. to
have become possessed by "a spirit OF
war that blinds Il to the fact that
this strange era is an huormal one,
that it must pass and the star of
peace return ushering In = day
when the problems OF normal life
will assume an even greater import
ance than ever before. There Is no
doubt that many of the strange new
experiences through which we are
passing have affected our mental pro-
cesses for the worse. Cheap clap
trap and appeals. which short time
ago we would have passed by. or
treated with derision, now stir us to
frenzy Let us then, as far as posi-
HE at this time. prepare our forces
and organize our resources for that
peace which we know must come in
the end reversing the saying, In time
OF peace, prepare for war. and make