Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-06-16
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
ON TOPICS OF THE DAY
Is virginia Ia Go Forward or Back.
ward In Highway Con-
structionr

10 The Editor al The Times pispatch.
sir There ar. Indications Of a
suspension OF rondwork from Viz
GINA 10 Florida. and the trouble is
not with the atiitud" OF the people
nut IN" politicians In ,h- 1--WE states
Gown the coast the highway work
has in mos, cases been taken GU, Of
me hands OF stat. aud county poll.
TEXANS. ana placed in charge OF a
competent engineer, with "A SUPER
Nlsihg highway board. The rcsulr
las been u hI Improvement. NOT.
withstandins the nigh cost OF ma
t"rlals ana labor. ana the fac, that
freight rates hav. neeu excessive
IN" Pre-" of materials failing. is /,
h"t i"iiy 10 stop construction work.
liihi year more people drove
( thruuSh \cr:;inih than ever before I'm
Der history. Til" objection NAV h,
urged bS nonprnrrcssivcs that xc
are not building our roads FOR
tourists. hut the puh!ic-spiritcd bus
ness man, and tn. Intelligent wo-
en- citizens know That We ncc, NOR.
people and more money To develop
our wonderful resources. and nothing
IS more attractive 10 tourists than
good roads aud good schools ON.
has only to take "a trim through the
states South II MS 10 So" tina, they
az" awakening To their opppr, uuitirs
Tor increasing populn ton and wealth
10y building good roads aud adv.rtis-
ing tho iact. y man from Buffalo
was advised to 20 Ia Cincinnati. and
from there !" Floridr. To avoid tho
pad roads III Virginia II was a COM
mon occurrence in Florida last winter
to hear IN" remark. We had "a line
trip all the way down. cNc"p, for the
bad roads in Virginia ana south caro-
lima
We hav" allowed our sister states
10 TAKE the lead in rouibuild!ug-
hut there - now "a chance To regain
our leadership. The question Is
Siuhf"lN before VS., ~ means money
ana united effort, viii Nc accept the
opportunity, OF dodg" the issm.r W..
hear from some 81 our leaders. Il
am Tor better highways, but ! want
a dollars worth al road for every
dollar spent" y foolish phrase to
Get votes. Ask amy railroad or pub
li' utility company VIVA. their over
head cost is. cumpar. ii with - hat
IT is costing to administer Nirginia's
HIGHWAY department. aud YOU will
Sc" how chcapiN YOU are getting tho
wore done. The head of your High
way department Is recognized as an
authority on highway construction
rity is unVr"stioncd, and he requires
the sam" high sense OF honor from
his men. Granted that hc has made
mistakes. and Will make them again
even IS You ana l." his work stands
and cooperation nccomplishcs more
than criticism. Your state highway
system is good. but not perfect. FOR
To ID" that. II would have 10 20 in
front OF every mans door. but IL vii;
allow YOU TO go from Bristol to Nor
iolK. from Alexandria To Danvillc on
good road. which viii pay for itself
in one year after IL is completed.
First in the cost and upkeep Of cars.
trucks. etc. and second in the in
creased value OF property In the
state.
You are told TO beware of hoid is
| sues. DO we ever stop 10 think that
| II there had been no bond issues We
| would today be without railroads.
| street car systems. schools. light
! plants and thousands of other i'm
| provcmcnts" Nor could The world
war have been won so quickly with
| out them Can we afford to let that
! acspot the Mud King. take his toll
| ~ wealth and lives each year in our
grand old state?
Yours for more roads and better
| roads. W. H. T.
Petersburg. Va. June II. 1921