Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-20
Tlting AT Ancien. windmills.

| IT HE average citizen who fears to invest
| his earnings in legitimate enterprises.
! because former ventures have proved I'M
| successful will remain only an average citi-
zen far his material prosperity is con-
cerned.
The business organization which refuses
TO make fresh investments and extend its
activities along well-thought-out lines.
merely because certain other investments
have not produced dividends soon will be
passed by in the modern march OF progress.
IL the city OF Richmond declined to build
new streets or make municipal improve
ments until II had the money actually in
hand. because certain public funds in tho
past had been e1travagahtly expended
wasted. what place could it hope to take
among Americas progressive cities?
And. suppose the State OF Virginia refuses
to so ahead with its ambiuoAs road
building program just because mohey spent
fifty and more years ago for internal i'm
provements did not bring the hoped-ror
material returns. Can il be expected to be
regarded as progressive?
Yet apparently, that is what Mr. Hughes,
or Norfolk. who has contributed series OF
letters on the subject to The Times Dis
patch. would have the State do He has
taken upon himself the task OF defeating
the proposed amendment TO the Constitution
whereby the State would be privileged to
issue bonds for highway Improvement and
maintenance And why? Not because he
disappToves OF modern highways On the
contrary, he says he favors them, but he
wants them obtained gradually and all the
costs paid from current taxation After CEN
turtles spent neck-deep in mire to its own
discomfort and financial loss he would have
Virginia TO be in hurry for the modern
ization OF its highway system
Grounds for the objections interposed by
Mr.. Hughes are real enough il one cares to
stand with his back to the future and his
Yn nh fncCo rl
10 those persons who confidently face the
coming years 1t seems q futile fitting at
ancient windmils to argue that because the
state spent millions OF dollars before tho
War Between the States, which. because of
that war. did not yield the expected returns.
1t should now decline to invest in a highway
system which. as has been proved by the ex-
perience OF other States. would be its most
valuable and biggest paying asset
Not content with delvins into the past and
dragging up its financial ghosts to frighten
virginia away from its proposed progressive
step he does turn his eyes to the future, but
they are the eyes OF pessimist He can
see only world at arms condition ot
unrest and uncertainty. with race riots and
Grass wars raging over Virginia's soil its
treasury depleted through money spent on its
roads File upon such dark prophecies. All
Things are possible, Of course, but if Virginia
Is TO lag behind and bury itself in the mud
because OF the futures visionary terrors.
then it would better proceed to liouidate a.
once ana go out OF business. Safety first
ana prccaution are commendable. but thew
can be carried too far when imagination 4,
permitted to run riot to the extent of fear
ing the speedy loss OF the automobile tar
'Hroush the popularity OF the airpane.
Virginia will approve the amendment. II
Is urea OF living in the past and holding
the osres OF past errors and past misfor
tunes up TO its own startled gaze It knows
mat onfy by building a modern highway
system can 1t come into its own rightfnl
heritage. it knows further that every doIl,r
mus spent is dollar judciously invested
anu IN this business proposition 1t does not
propose 10 be niggardly to It's own hurt