Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-17
GIVE VIGOROUS APPROVAL
TO GOOD ROAD MEASURES
largely Attended Convention In
: dorses GOolrick Plan for
State Highways.
HARRIS HART MAKES ADDRESS
superintendent of Public Instruction
Eiect Stresses Importance of
Roads in Extension OF Education.
al Work Throughout the State.

Roads in Extension OF Education
al Work Throughout the State.
| vigorous approval OF the good-road
measures war tho Keynote of yoster-.
Jays meeting OF the Virginia Good
/ loads Association at Murphy's Hotel
Nuoitorium. In tho morning session
senator c. OConer Goolrck recon
nendcd the system yesterday referred
10 by Mr.. Coleman--that OF the States
concentration upon her main highways
s. L. Won Gemmingen. who spoke
AFTER Senator Goolrick. had for his
meme Highway Maintenance in vir-
Finia He agreed also with Mr. Cole
Imam that the State automobile tax be
used for the preservation of the state
'oaos. and not for their construction.
Mr. Won Gcmmingen spoke OF the
roads proportional growth to the
amount OF money expended upon them
ana gave an account of the manner in
which this money is now being ex-
pended by the Commonwealth. Partic-
ularly did he go into details in regard
10 the manner of constructing good
, roads whether dirt. sand. clay. water
y ncund macadan or tar-bound macadam
> 80 greatly was the association i'm
pressed with his talk that it ordered
600 copies TO be printed for distribu-
tion.
HARRIS HART MAKES
INTERESTING ADDRESS
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Elect Harris Hart OF Roanoke, began
tho afternoon session with the subject
Tho Eject of Road Improvement on
cubic Schools" In which he showed
tho relation between improved high
wars and improved education. Good
roadways arc an inestimable boon. ne
said. to school attendance. while I
have no chart to provo the fact be-
lieve that tho well-road ed sections have
Is or 80 per cent better attendance
than those with bad roads
Coco roads are also the means OF
better school consolidation, Nr. Hart
said. While the primary schools must
not necessarily be consolidated. never
theless ono high school sh ould serve for
several communities, and means must
be provided for the communication Of
the lower school with the school CEN
ter. Good roads arc the necessary
uieans.
strong and we!l-prcscnted point was
the part that road Improvement plays
IN the increasing OF land value. The
present land levy. Mr.. Hart said should
not be raised. but, instead. he advocated
the raising OF tho value OF the land
itsolf. Our debt to the support of the
public schools is now clos. to $1,000
900, and the natural manner OF raising
this shortage is the enhancing OF the
value OF the lands by the construction
OF roads.
In conclusion, Mr.. Hart said that the
highway itself was no mean teacher
For It is made UP OF arteries by which
those In rural districts are informed
OF outside occurrences. well-roaded
communities can have cooperation of
IDEAS aud thus increase their value.
Z MARYLAND COMMISSIONER TELLS
OF THAT STATES PROGRESS
II. G. Shirley. Of Maryland. followed
Mr.. Hart His very instructive lecture
on Highway Improvement in Mary
land" was frequently interrupted by
questions. until the chairman broush,
the interroEators TO order. Maryland
has found II necessary, he said, 10 add
$500 miles OF road in the last few
years. This. In all constitutes about
10 per cent OF Ma-yland's roads. and
handles 80 per cent OF her traffic. Sixty
per cent OF the traffic on the roads In
tho northwest neck OF the State are
cars coming into Maryland.
The automobile tax is used In Mary
land for the maintenance OF both State
and State-aid roads. A total Of
5ai,oo0.o00 has been invested and the
investment is worth At least 10000
ooo. Ono result of the road improve
mert In Maryland is the Farmers CO.
=, Operative Truck Line. which Is cor
poration OF farmers. formed as to
market their wares the more con-
veniently and also TO procure articles
from tho towns with greater ease. MIR.
Shirley advocated convict labor on the
roads.
The meeting was then given over TO
eItcmpore remarks. led by Mr.. Bel
wood, who spoke OF the liability OF
road work TO interfere with war work.
which remark occasioned many express
sions Of opinion.
Mr.. Roberts. OF Southwestern Vir-
sinia. moved that the Superintendent
OF Public Instruction. the State Board
OF Health and the Department OF Agr.-
culture be asked to compile charts,
: showing the effect OF road improve
ment upon their several departments
The motion was adopted.
WAR WORK NOT TO STOP
IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS
Mr.. Roberts. Of Southwestern Vir-
sinia, who is one of the strongest ad-
vocates OF the good road plans. caused
considerable amusement yesterday by
expressions in his several brief re-
marks. During the course OF his adj
dress he was interrupted by the in
quiry whether or not the State had
sufficient funds for road Improvement
YES" he replied. "the taxpayers have
plenty OF money II the Legislature will
permit-will oermit-them to put it
up!"
When II was suggested that the
plans would interfere with war work,
no rose to his feet. "Mr. Chairman"
he said, you may talk OF your sons
and your relatives in the trenches. but
with mud hole between you and them.
sir, they might as we'll be with tho
levll.' His audience broke into ap-
= pIause and laughter.