Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-07
COLEMAN REVIEWS ROAD
CONDITIONS IN VIRGINIA
Principal Arteries Cut 10 Ribbons 10y
Heavy Army Motor
Trucks.
REASONS FOR GOVERNMENT AID
Great Fleets OF Immense Motor Cars
~ Now Pass Over Roads. Carrying
Supplies to Cantonments and Ter
minal Points.

In an address 70 The Council o; De
Il tense las, week, Highway Commits
sioner George =. Coleman reviewed
Il conditions o. Virginia roads leading 20
s. the various cantonmeutS
1, For several years l have taken
Il great interest in the problems affect
& ing truck transportation over the
II highways OF the country This IN
terest. however. has been very much
intensified since Americas entrance
Is into the war FOR one Of The Immediate
/, problems entering into this was the
u transportation OF thousands OF auto
Il mobiles and trucks. together with
their necessary repair Parts. from Ch.-
I! cage, Detroi: and other manufacturing
n centerS 20 The coast FOR shipment TO
Il France, and 10 do this without calling
3 on the railways. which were already
I overtaxed Under these conditions
i then. the most natural thing for
!, that department 10 turn 70 the nigh
Z ways for RELIEF. Inquiry was made
= OF the various highway departments as
to routes and the condition OF these
routes for carving light or heavy
motor truck traffic. II was evident
from the a-st that there was really
& no through route which had been I'M
i proved is whole length. Long sec
\ tions In some < lie states hac been
n highly improved lut IN most instances
~ these sections had n1t been connected
i, UP from State 10 Sta.e As Z matter
81 of fact, the States We're not then. and
are not now. prepared 10 meet TINS
new traffic condition. This movement
( or war trucks was started in tho
middle OF tn, winter. Their detectives.
y in larEe majority O: Instances being
TO points north ot the Potomac River.
e Recently, however, = number Of thes.
i truck trains have been diverted TO our
q Virginia roads, and q large number Of
< these trucks are going through 20
Petersburg, Norfolk Newport News
and the various other army and navy
OrerattOnS ~
Atlanta and other points 10 the south
FACE TO FACE WITH
NEW TRAFFIC CONDITIONS
This. then, brings US in Virginia racs
to face with this new traffic condition
+ and its numerous problems These
problems are indeed serious and vii,
require our VERY best thought corr
sideration and efor, 10 cope Win them
properly. I have recently made ,rlp.
over the roads from Washington 10
Richmond Petersburg. Norfolk New
s port News and Old Poiu,. and Will.
/, there are a few sections which ar.
i carrying this new ;ra;'ic. the greater
part or these roads have been bzEtv
II damaged AL on many Sections a..
the small bridges have been b-oHer
&. through. and in several instances the
larger bridges have given away As.
matters stand'*, this time. should yre
roads would lie OUT u commission, .or
even ordinary traffic
Many Of you are aware 0, The dI,
ncut task which i has been 10 keep
the road from here % Washington and
Z from here 10 Petersburg omen .o- or
d,nary traac eyan under :averabjs
|. conditions. As matter O. ract mis-
last winter was the first tine Nc have
been able 10 maintain uninterrupted
trafic.
The States O. the United s,..es are
4 in relatively the same condition az the
n counties OF Virginia. Here in virginia
~ Tor the past twelve years ~ have been
constructing short sections Of roads In
the various counties. but the se,er'inn
of these sections was made ,gitnoI,
reference 10 DEFINITE policy or gen
Z eral plan. The consequence u.s. that
s. we have hundreds Of miles az more
or less improved sections scattered
IS Throughout the State. but as a State
e we are stiil in the mud. JUST So II is
U.s. with the whole United states Each
~ OF the states has constructed iuaus
Is miles OF road, but each on tie own
iniative. without reference TO rs
81 neighbor and without q general plan.
~ and as a consequence We as "a nation.
~ are az much in the miro as We as q
State. are in the mud
SHOULD HAyE DEFINITE
NATIONAL POLICY
Road construction Is no, onl. :,
81 county and state problem. but "a ma
~ uonal one. and believe that tho ,i,ne
IS is here when we. rs nation Should
49, tormulat a G"NH!t" highway puII.v
and adopt national highway SYSTEM.
Isl The necessity for This was clearly
81 demonstrate during the last winter
when railway and water ttanzoar;a-
tion were not only Inadequate hu,
were breaking down under Tic airi.n
ia OF the new transportation conditions.
We will. without doubt Doe, con-
fronted with the arguments .ua, rIF
- sS no time to construct ruads tia, we
50 should wait untl the end OF the war.
that we should conserve ;Nl our
finances and direct all oi our eu-rF Ic-
81 to the winning OF complete victory
d fn France. ] yield to no man in -rv
X love for my country or in my Witt
y ingnees TO make every saorifcc fr
"a that victory which know VIII b" uura
t.@} In the end. and, for that reason ] am
here. to urge the construction ol ous
main roads war necessity
gSknnw of no way in which wc can cori-
serve our resources NOR" than .u tAt
ISL construction Of improved roads Evcry
pound of produce; every pound OF ma.
1erial, IS hauled over the highways OF
ga the country. therefore, The reduction
Isf9s - - - - ga AHFE. o.. "a.