Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-06
6. B. RICHARDSON POINTS
1UTH NEED FOR STATE BODY
Kicking Like Mules Over
Roads Is Not Getting
8 Anywhere
CITES MAn,LAND As EN,MrLr:
Tint state and California HIVE
Strong Automobile CIubs.-Writrr
Declares state Highway Commits
- sioncr Needs Cu-opcrntiun.

&c. Il. Richardson. well known
citizen of Richmond. deeply in
terested in better highways. who
a few weeks ago stirred The XII
wants Club with brio. address
on the need OF improved roads
in Virginia. ami tho urgent need
for modification OF certain laws
reiptiye to infrac;ion Of laws.
writes an open letter to the l45.-i
+, COO an,omobil!sts In Virginia urr-
ins the formation OF strong
cius for the mutual benefit OF ALL
II, {. II. Richardson.
\ great many ~ tho autcmohnists
in Virginia are Wondering why i, is
We have not in this state live auto.
mobile club Thousands ot us arr
kicking Ike mules over the roads in
Virginia. saying all sorts Of things.
and thiHkinS all sorts Of things. out
~% arc no; getting anywhere II
We VIII review he situation in states
where marnifoen: highways exist.
We VIII ind powerful automobilc
clubs backing the H!eaway Conm.s-
sieHe-.
Let us look ., California and Mary
iand for instance In CalotorniS.
there arc over s.oea miles of concrete
road w.tH ;wo enormous automobile
eiGAs . watch dos ComlrG lsttlc
closer nome. IL NAry,ara we find 4
stretch - highway second = none in
THIS country. ami likewise = nacnifi.
cent automobile club The autumo.
hilIstS IN virginia are uno-canizeci.
Er9T!rc their Wy IN darkness aud
travelling over mud in wet weather
and ius; IN dry.
Commissioner Needs Co-Opcration.
The highway ommissioner in Vir-
GINA is perhaps the most abused man
in the State, What we lack is the
cooperation az Ar automobile club 10
frht the office holding politicians.
Think Tor "a moment what this means.
The politicians IN 100 counties are
al! fighting for Tho counties shar. az
thc money at the disposal Of tho high
WY commissioner Tho consequences
are that We cannot progress. There
nre patches OF Cood roads all over the
state not connected For instance.
TAKE the larger cities in Virginia.
f'chwond. Norfolk, Portsmouth. New
port NewS and suffolk With popu-
iation Of practically 100000 people
living within u radius Of eighty ei.h,
Mules from each other unless weather
cenditions arc perfect, il is almost
imrnssiblc Ia drtvc an automobile
from Richmond To Norfolk, without
practically ruiuinU the car. The OLD
town az Williams burg, with one o.
the Oldest schools In this country. !.
isolated so FAR as Richmond is con.
cerned The grca, institutions ar,
now in the lime light. and hundred,
OF thousands OF people all over tn.
United states would like To SEQ them
but they cannot be reached ye
awhile.
This automobile clnh is needed Il
order that we may have some ga
in the location OF roads MIR. Cole
man is bcsicrcd on all sides II Il
3 could have the backing OF rrtu
automobile club. without fear o
favor. he could huild main artcrir
IN direct air line. whereas he f
bound To comply with the request
Of politicians in various couutic
where there is no organized automo
bile club
Little Gaps Need Repairing.
The eighteen counties adjacent I,
Richmond and Norfolk have an a.
seseed valuation %. Sl.625.GlG.G>$. %
practically 80 per cent ci the cnti-
State valuation. yet we are an vrop
ing in mud and dust ,.uSsirr out IN