Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-16
GOOD ROADS, ASSOCIATION
FAV0RS STATE HIGHWAYS
Several Speakers Approve Plan Now
Pending Before General
Assembly.
State Highway Commissioners. Tells
OF Pending Bills and What They
Are Expected TO Accomplishing
yOrS State Bomd Issue.

The Virginia Good Roads .ASSoCia-
ton held its first meeting yesterday a
Murphy's fotcl auditorium. Tie rur-
peso &C the organization is tho ad-
rocatinE Of the construction and m1in-
teuancc Of good highways throughout
tho state and several valuable *ur
.csticns were offered h. the speakers.
The morning session was devoted TO
the question whether or not IL Is al =
visablo 80 continue this improvement;
during The progress OF the war. y
was decided in the affirmative. y rcS"-
luton COMMITTEES. composed of McSSrS.
Lurtcn. Roberts. shepherd. McCraN.
Eai!iSon. Coleman, Scott and others,
was appointed. and tie newly made
committee voted W. 9. Saunders a.
president OF the organization.
Thc afternoon session began with al
address by \. Il Thornhill. on The
Farmer and Road Improvement" Many
references were made TO the ina lc.
quatc means tina: Virginia farmers
have TO market their wares. The state
raises annually. he says, 81 100000
worth of produce and tho highways
arc in such a condition that its trans
porta;ion is greatly impaired. \ di-
rec. tax is the cure, he sai6. NO farm
or in Virginia" lie went on would
object TO such tax IL he knew it would
he put in road Improvement" Tic
speaker then assured his hearers that
such work could be ACCOMPLISHED
only by united and strong effort.
COLEMAN TELLS OF PLAN
FOR STATE: HIGHWAYS.
After a brief discussion by Delegate
Mcconnell. Of Henrico, the speaker OF
the afternoon. George I. Coleman.
State Highway Commissioner q. Viz
i.inia. took the floor. His subject vas
ono especially appropriate to the pres
cnt. Highway LeEisla ton in Virgin ia"
and he took up the body of hi4 talk
mainly with rccoinm cndations that the
Highway Department aud the lcSicla =
live road committee intends 70 omcr 20
the Genera Assembly Ills plan il;
this: Fer the main highways OF tho
, state to have Federal aid as we'll rs
the funds of the state. This cannot b.
accomplished. he said. without the APP
pointmcrt of a Legislative road CON
mi:tcc. iiy this means. 100000 in July
and 100000 next year Will be avail
able from the combined effort Il The
State and nation. Further he recon-
mendcd that the counties lay out
county highway systems.
The state and the county will then
combine for :he maintenance uf ~"
county roads not includcd ~ the larger
roads of the state. The county Gni,
NlSlTlcl VIII lkeWiSc unite u, the Slr
port Of the minor light traf.c' roads
! Mr.. Coleman then gave for conSidera-
! lion the resolution that immediate
steps hc taken to amend tho consti,u-
/ ton so that bonds may hc issued for
+ road Improvement. Pending this Ia
proposed that The STATE levy a Gircc,
. tax to be used as Il sinking, fuad 70,
/ tho same. The automobile tax. lie
showed 10 be q -neanS rather Tor the
preservation than for the construction
OF roads.
Mr.. Coleman advised that the stat.
Highway Department be allowed nor,
discration in regard TO the salary % i. )
employees as they are apt. after their
period OF training, to cmisratc % new
fields.
Several other delegates followed ,lr.
Coleman ana in brief talks. echoed his
views.
The conHHittec un resolutions l,elI .
meeting at o'clock last night in
order to give each member The opr,r-
unity o: expressing him.clr ON the
! question Of good roads.