Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-27
APPR0PR|ATEs 100000
FOR VIRGINIA ROAD WORK
Governor Finally Successful i'm Get.
ting Federal Government to
Construct Highways.
TO CONNECT WAR CENTER,
Initial Step In Big Plan Relieves
Situation in South Tidcwntcr Sec
ton = Follows Roads Congress
Held Here in Summer.

l;y appropriating $1,000 600 for tho
construction of about Twenty-Five miles
OF road connecting M the military sta
tons and naval bases around the vicin-
ity of Hampton Roads. the United
states has taken the nrSt important
step in CO. cooperation with the states in
the construction of military highways.
as publicly advocated by Governor Ia
Wis and state Highway Commissioner
Coleman since July /. This approprla-
was made by a Presidential order, ac-
c"rdinE I" Information received by
Commissioners Coleman yesterday
The road TO be constructed by the
appropriation will connect Yorktown
An important naval base: Camp r.ustiS.
an artillery and balloon station: Camp
Morrison an aviation station: camp
coast artillery barracks: Hampton:
Langley Field. an aviation training
school grounds. aud Fortress Monroe.
The roads will also connect Norfolk
WIN inc Enitcd states Navy Yard. at
portsmouth: the naval training station
or the old Jamestown Exposition
Grounds and the Engineers supply De
pot \ good deal Of this net Of roads
I" be constructed to connect tho routes
Is about twenty-five About four OF
!, Is In the city OF Ncwpor, News.
OtTGRowTH oE MEETING
CALLED BN GOVERNOR
This scheme was begun about six
months ago. Ii came to a head on
July |. when tho Governor called a
mass meeting in the hail OF tho House
Of Delegates. Rcprcss OF about
nine cities and twenty-five counties
were present at tho congress. there be-
;rc about 200 enthusiastic road advo-
Gates in the Capitol. y; this meeting
General Cocktails. in Washington, and
lay it's plans before him. This was
uono.
Flu, the state Highway Commissions
lot i.. ,pi. 4,
that lie and tho Governor took the
matter UP with admiral j.. u.
harris. chairman of tho board OF con-
troll of war construction activities. Nor
folk. and other military men in charge
of these stations and bases affected by
the deplorablc roads in the community
The matter reached tho PRESIDENT and
the appropriation for this road con-
struction is tho result.
The original plans Of the road con-
rrcSs. which were laid before General
Cocktails also included the construc
iion Of road from Washington to
Norfolk and Petersburg. by the way Of
this city. But Comm iSsioncr Coleman.
who has lahored Loyalty in this mat
Tor, is greatly pleased over the result
and the prospect.
TOOK MATTER DIRECTLY
TO PRESIDENT WILSON
The construction OF the twcnty-h five
miles referred 10 as connecting the sta
Tons and bases operating around Nor
folk and Portsmouth involves the trav-
cling facilities Of pcrfec, nest of gov
rrnmcnt war activities. II Is thought
that there are more government en-
ployecS and government soldiers and
sailors in the same territory in and
around these cities than in that same
amount Of territory in the United
states. That will give some idea OF
the use of the roads to be constructed.
Governor Davis took this matter up
with President Wilson directly on Sep
TENDER G. This move also was but
continuation of tn" plans set in mo-
ton at tho roads congress at the Cap
itol July !. Then III. Governor stated
that such roads as the state could
build alone would avail nothing for
the heavy traffic which the virilc prep
aration for war entails. And the ap-
preparation OF Ss,Oo0.06O ror the con
struction Of twenty-five miles of roads
indicates the nature OF the roads the
government intends To build around
Nirginia'S port towns, there being
rhout $4,000 per mile, if so much as
that be needed.