Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-13
A New Date in virginia's History.

"WEDNESDAY, august IS. 1919.
red. 1t is date that will take its place
with others which serve as milestones along
the pathway of Virgnia's progress. In the
generations TO come it will be recalled as
OF the most important OF them all. Its
remembrance may lack the glamour and
romance which form halo about certain
other days that radantly shine forth from
the glorious pages OF Virginias history, but
it will be less worthy u place in those
pages, for it is destined to mark the begin
ming of Virginias real acknowledgement
the era of good roads the day when it threw
off the hurdensome shackles OF miry, rock
strewn, tortuous highways and proudly took
its stand among its sister States which have
been emancipated from their bondage to
mud
Today marks the elimination of long and
tireless labors the part OF the good roads
advocates OF Virginia. Many years ago.
and The Times Dispatch is gratified by the
fact that it was Of the pioneers they
began their campaign OF education. Prog
ress was slow. The people generally
seemed apathetic. Many were suspicious
lest they be taxed 10 benefit the cities and
the automobile owners, AT times there was
disbursement as years passed and moth
Ing was done but there was no slackenlng
OF effort. The State continued to waste its
money in patchwork road-building a few
miles here and 4 few miles there as actual
necessity or political expediency demanded
and even those few miles after brief time
relapsed into their primitive condition Of
nlre. But there was real progress AS
evinced by the fact that this day sees the
people OF Virginia solidly united behind the
proposed good roads program and deter
mined as never before that their State at
last shall be lifted out of the mud never
again 10 sink into its noxious, clogging
depths.
On this day that campaign of good roads
education. slaunched so many years ago
reaches its fruition in a special session OF
the General Assembly self-called to provide
an initial fund of S50OO,00O wherewith 4
similar fund provided by the Federal gov
eminent may be obtained Members OF the
Assembly. now speeding towards Richmond
OF ALREADY mere are among the most ear
nest good roads advocates They know that
on good roads depends the wel-being OF
their constituents, and they are strengthened
and supported in their great undertaking
oy the knowledge that almost TO a man
'hose constituents are encourag ing them in
what 1t is proposed to do for Nirginia's
highway system and will hold them respon-
slole Under such conditions. with the peo-
PIE uemanaing good roads and the members
OF the Assembly earnest III their efforts 10
meet that demand wisely and economically,
IT. Is ioreseen that the special session will
NC one OF harmony and honest endeayor for
the state. There no doubt sill be differ
ences OF opinion as TO ways and meas. bur
win all concurrng on the basic proposi
uon that good roads are essential and can
not De longer delayed, those differences will
ne ironeo out and laws just to all interests
and all sections enacted
me Importance OF this day to Virginia
VIII not be realized in fullest measure until
years shall have rolled by and network
Oh ail-'he-year-round highways shall have
ilhked up every community, and those COM
mnnities with those in other States inns
nFihglng Virginia into its own at last. bnt
us oeep significance will no, be lost even
,ouas Nheh the Governor of the State, it's
lawmakers and its leading citizens eathar -
'haugurate the road -building program
towards which their eyes have been turned
anu lot which they have labored throughout
many long years