The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-04
VIEWS
To DECIDE FATE
Of VALLEY Pike
II. f. Byrd, President of Valley Turn
pike Company Makes Statement.
Wants People to Under
stand Bill.

stanton, Va, Feb. al request the
careful attention of the people of the
Valley of Virginia to an advertisement,
published elsewhere, providing for the
dissolution of the Valley Turnpike
company. the adjustment of the toll
gates. and the maintenance of this
road BY state funds, without local tax
alton. This suggestion first emanated
from the state roads commission. This
body has been investigating the road
system of the state of Virginia for the
past two years and has reached the
conclusion that the continuation of toll
gates on the Valley turnpike is detri-
mental to the state OF Virginia and dis
courages traffic into the state.
After consultation regarding this
bill with the directors. state proxies.
and other officials OF the Valley Turn
pike company, we have reached the
conclusion that the Valley Turnpike
company should not impose any obsta-
cles IN the way of the passage of the
proposed bill. l, myself, have never
owned and do not own. directly or in
directly, one dollar OF stock in the
Valley Turnpike company. AS the
only effect of this bill will he to de-
prive me of my position az president
/ have decided that there would be
no improperly for me to become a
patron of the measure as a member
OF the state senate.
The Valley Turnpike company de-
slres the people of the Valley of Viz
ginia TO be fully informed In regard
to the proposed legislation. The pat
rons OF the bill in the senate. in add
zion to myself, are Senators Goodrich.
Robertson. Conrad. Andrews, Trinkle,
Downing and Jordan. Senator Cool
rich is chairman of the state roads
commission and Senator Robertson q
member. 1t is up to the general as
sembly OF Virginia to either adopt or
reject the measure. If passed, II is up
to the Valley Turnpike company
within sixty days from July / next, to
either adopt or reject the provisions
of the act.
The passage of this bill providing
for maintenance Of the Valley turn
pike from state funds will not likely
deprive any other road In the Valley
Of Virginia OF either maintenance or
construction funds. BY the road bill
as recommended by the state roads
commission, and which viii no doubt
be adopted by the general assembly,
only trunk or through roads are eligi-
bic for maintenance by the state In
the event the proposed bill is enacted
the Valley Turnpike company will be
guided by the concensus Of public
opinion throughout the valley as to
the advisability Of the acceptance Of
its provisions. Such acceptance can
be made any time prior 10 September
=. 1918.
The designation of the Valley turn
pike as state highway and the dis
solution Of the Valley Turnpike COM
pany as proposed will make this road
eligible to receive one-half the cost
of any construction work necessary
from the United States government
and one-haH from the state This will
enable the widening OF the road and
the construction Of the three track
system without direct cost to the val
ley. | consider the construction of
three tracks necessary both for the
safety OF the users OF the road and to
enable the passage OF horse wn
vehicles without travelling on tho
asphaltic part of the road, which
would be reserved for motor traffic
The Valley turnpike Is a road not
only Of state but of national impor-
lance. AS the connecting link be
tween the North and the South. the
traffic can be expected to steadily in
crease. / welcome suggestions regard
ing this measure.
H. F. BYRD. President,