Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-02
ROAD CONFERENCE CALLS
FOR GOVERNMENT AID
NContinucd Prom Eirst. PaseD

" -" Hu array OF HSurcS. lie demon
| sirated the necessity from Il war view
OF TINS action for which the confer
cncc was allied
y representative OF the United States
Army addressed the conference for a
fe" minutes. He said that the teaching
OF truck drivers at Newport News had
rent the roads into ribbons. and that
/ with the present plans of the govern
ment to train 1000 drivers there pcr
mouth. something had to be done, and
that so long as violating rules did not
interfere they were ready TO aid in
all ways in rebuilding the roads. He
stated that they had been hauling oys.
ter shells and they were ready ~ haul
gravel and sand
NEWPORT NEWS STREETS
HAVE BEEN CUT TO Ribbons
delegate from Alexandria said tina,
the government. without either coun.
~ or city aid. had built concrete
road from Camp humphreys to Alex
| andria lie stated this as proof of the
willingness of the government 10 do
its part. The delegate from Newpor,
News said that the city had had its
streets damaged by the use Of trucks
to the extent Of 100000 at least. and
raised 100000 for aid to the govern
ment in making permanent the streets
and adjoining roads. Hc corroboratcd
the testimony that the thousands o..
trucks we're making plowed fields Of
the roads from Camp Morrison and
Camp stuart TO Old Point Comfort
where OF the Federal artillery
schools is in session.
G. B. Garnctt, chairman OF the State
Corporation Commission, raised the
point as to the proper initiation OF
this scheme. whether it was to be
Federal or state. and remarked that
each demanded different course. II
answer, C. z. Kelley, executive secre-
tary Of the State Council of Defense
stated that on Saturday he had a con.
! ference with representatives of ,ho
Council OF National Defense in which
he learned that the construction Of thi.
route must be presented as section
OF a national scheme of war emcr-
gency highways. He made it plain that
Virginia and Virginia roads must not
be the cry; but that the Eovernin emit
would lend quicker ear to the sut-
ject when presented Is war necessity
IN connecting UP the points of produc.
tion with the points OF consumption.
which in this instance are points OF
EN- barkation. But the scheme must be
national. This note was also sounded
in the second and third resolutions.
LEAVE TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
DETERMINATION OF THE ROUTE
Governor Davis, in opening the meet
ing, advised the delegates to the con-
ference to leave out of their discus
sion the determination OF the route.
This point he took for the sake Of
harmony, leaving IL to the Federal
government upon which the call for
aid is being maze. to settle that as
a military necessity.
Commissioner Coleman. referring to
the truck trains and the road con-
ditions. said:
1t Was evident from the first that
there was really no through route
which had been improved throughout
its whole length. Long sections of the
state had been highly improved, but
in most instances these sections had
not been connected up from State to
state. This movement OF
trucks was started in the middle of
the winter. Recently large number
of these truck trains have been divert
cd 10 our Virginia roads. This
new traffic condition and its numerous
problems. which are indeed serious
The greater part of the roads have
been badly damaged by the trucks In
many of the sections, all of he small
bridges and some of the large. cneS
have given away.
We have hundreds of miles of more
or less improved roads. but as a State
we are still in the mud. Just SO with
the whole United States r.ut road con
Struction is national problem, and
believe the time is al ham, when VIC
as a nation should formulate definite
highway policy and adopt national
highway system. The necessity for
this was demonstrated last winter when
the railway and water transportation
broke down under the strain Of the
new transportation conditions.
STATE FUNDS INADEQUATE
TO MEET CONDITIONS
MIR. Coleman stated. There is avail
able from all state sources including
the work already under way. for con-
struction or roads. between 500. 900
ard $4,000 an amount wholly in
adequate to meet the conG!tions which
confront us at this time" And. refer
ring &C the war. lie sale:
In our eager desire to do every
thing possible for the prosecution of
the war. we arc losing sight OF the
fact that preparation for future peace
is part of this war, and should take
an important place in our present plans.
This victorious peace. which is ap-
preaching steadily, in spite of any dis
couraEing turn events may take. will
be different from any peace which the
world has yet known. will present
different problems and bring new
chances for our development and prog.
ress. 1t is, therefore. as much our
duty to our country to prepare to take
advantage Of these new conditions az
it is incumbent on US to let nothing
check our preparations for carrying
on the war. We can speed up the
great machine. and we will do that to
the utmost. There arc many Of US who
cannot go TO the front, and WHO are
1YY4Y1rrvY..Way .11fnYS6s