The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-05-02

isgnCjluufE, va, May III. n
Ryland. secretary of the chamber OF
commerce here announced today
that a contract had been closed at
Norfolk by General c. c. Vaughan.
Jr., president of the Virginia Good
Roads association, for the produc-
ton of a state photoplay to be known
as "Firginias New Hour
The primary purpose OF the MIN
is to present to the people of Viz
ginia the fact that the hour has ar
rived for the construction of a state
system OF roads in order that trans
poFtatton facilities may be enlarged
TO meet present and future needs.
Ii is hoped thereby to ultimately put
INTO profitable cultivation thousands
OF acres of land, now practically in
accessible to market and TO reduce
hauling time on hard surfaced roads
20 such an extent that farmers will
have more time to devote to actual
crop production, and thus solve to
a large extent the prevailing farm
labor problem
The first step toward this end will
be taken next fail in the adoption of
, a constitutional amendment giving
the general assembly power to pro-
| vide the necessary capital for the
| state highway enterprise.
The production OF Virginia 3
Hour viii be under the authorship
and direct supervision of James w.
Brooks Of Washington ;, ID. C, a ma
tive of Virginia, and now director
| II the educational bureau of the
| federal highway council He will
work In close operation with G. p.
Coleman, state highway engineer, the
officers and members OF the Virginia
Good Roads association, and local
civic and commercial organizations
throughout the state
The significance Of this enterprise
/, is nation wide. other states have
and are now overhauling their high
way laws and highway construction
and maintenance methods but it has
remained for Virginia to take the
lead in one Of the most comprehen
sive and far-craching studies of the
highway ana its relation To all walks
OF life ever undertaken.
For years good roads advocates
have talked about what better high
ways will do In ''Nirginias New
Hour" they propose to show the
modern road in action and its hene-
fetal effects upon not only the com
mercial and industrial activities OF
the state but upon the whole range
Of Iifa--sociah religious and educa
t.onal--and taking in all walks of
high and low degree.
Educational institutions Of the
state will have d place in the film.
and student bodies viii be asked to
take part in staging dramati~ fea-
lures necessary 70 correct portrayal
of Virginia New Hour" Virginia
towns ard cities, also leading in
Gustries will appear on the screen as
part of the general plan IN show
how far the state has advant11 in
some respects in contrast to 9(woe-
full lack Of progress on the r/ads
Among the points 10 be covered are
the following: Alexandria, Staunton
Clifton Forge. Covingtnn. Abingdon,
Marion, wythevNr, DanvilIe Char
lottesvilIe. Winchester. Roanoke.
Iynchhure. Richmond. Norfolk. New
port News. Portsmouth, Petersburg
Franklin. williamsburg Smithfield.
Natural Bridge. Buena Vista, Lexfng-
ton. Luray Cayerns Front Royal
Rlackston, Salem, South Boston,
FarnvtIIe. Burkerille. Martinsville.
Rocky Mount. the coal interests in
Russell Wise and Lee counties and
a lso in the Pocahontas region All
Of these points. as plans now stand
will ne visited for the purpose Of
getting in touch with the proper au-
thorities al each point and 10 insure
good rcpresentatio in the produc-
ton.
Auionr tho vireinians who are CO.
operating actively in this method of
presenting 10 the people Of the sta e
q r7eans Of getting an accurate reTafu~
alton nj their state are the following
Colonel j. Y Williams Alexandra. ],
a. McAinetev. Hot Snriugs: Henry Rob
eats. rrirto}; G.. &. Holland. Danviile i;
Il IT Wood and j. l., Livers. Char
lottesvjte; :. l.. Lupton Winchester.
II. T. Elliot, Roanoke; y. T. Ryland.
Lynchburg. John Kerr Branch, Rich
mond. John A besner, Norfolk; VIII
liam Martin, Petersburg; w. A. 30
Earth. Williamsburg; J. A. Mundy. Jr.
Natural Bridge; w. V. Tyler, Dante; ].
A. Northcett Luray Caverns: j. A.
Hardy Blackstone; Freeman Eppes and
II. T. Johnston, FarmviIle, and Tucker
G. watkins. South Boston.
"Nirrinia's New Hour" is to be star
attraction. 1t is expected to he ready
3hc ct August 7, and VIII be shown a.
ar II the leading 3heaters in the state
MIR Ryland is also endeavoring to reach
back districts where motion pictures
have Rever been exhibited in order
that every Virginian may have an on
portuuity to see and understand the
necessity for the greatest public con-
structien enterprise ever launched ~
the state.
The premier showing will be given
al Richmond at date to he selected
later. Owing to the significance o.
Nirginia's determination to get at tht
bottom of the bad road trouble. am
10 present the remedy from the GROUND
up. as ii were, reaching out into every
phase OF the states social and eco
nomic structure, much interest is being
taken by government officials Whose