Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1922-10-13

Senator Byrd Answers Ii
Detail and Challenges
Former Governor To Pub.
lish In Southern Planter.
To Governor Westmoreland Davis,
chief owner of the Southern Planter,
Sir-My attention has been called to
an editorial in the September edition
OF the Southern Planter, entitled "The
Valley Turnpike of Virginia"
The purpose of your editorial seems
to be to produce the impression that
in some way the state was wronged or
defaulted by the private stockholders
of the Valley Turnpike Company when
the assets Of that company were turned
over to the state, and that was instru.
mental in obtaining some unconscien-
tious advantage for myself or for the
private stockholders.
In order to reach me you attack the
Board of Directors, the stockholders
and the state proxies. Nothing impro-
per could have been done without the
affirmative action of the directors rep
resenting the private stockholders.
These directors were D. B. Dinges, g.
H. Harrison, William Crawford, C. w.
Heater, E. D. Newman, Shirley Carter,
j. G. Myers, G. R. Eastman, and H. B.
Sproul now member of the State High
way Commission), ell prominent men
OF the highest character
The officers were H. F. Byrd, presi-
dent; Judge E. D. Newman, vice presi-
dent; L. R. Dettra, manager; D. B.
Dinges, Secretary; E. W. Newman,
treasurer, and R. Gray Williams, at
torney.
AS president never drew check
or had access to any funds. Treasurer
Newman, a bonded official, had eXclu-
sive charge of all funds
Knowing the political animus that
OiAl BtSo Jul lIkIS, Ii II lld(l tlittu
to me alone would have ignored it.
Your attack, however, upon the d.
rectors, the state proxies and the stock.
holders, representing the most promi.
nent and Influential residents of the
Valley of Virginia, deserves a reply.
If these directors did wrong, the
majority representing the state stock
could have been turned out by the state
proxies, who were R. NJ. Ward, NJ. L.
Walton, F. S Tavenner, F. L. Sublett,
John M. Steck, George B. Keezell,
William A. Pratt and Charles S. Hunter
all men ofhigh character and reputation
The transactions you now complain
of took place in the fall of 1918. Your
term as governor expired February !
1922. If there is an atom of truth in
your charges and innuendos you We're
grossly negligent in the performance
of your official duties in not protecting
the state.
Before giving you the Information
called for in your editorial it will be
conducive to clearness to give short
statement concerning the Valley Turn.
pike Company.
l became president of the company
in October, 1908. The receipts for the
year ending June 80, 1908, were s13
996.4S. After ten years of my admin
istration the receipts for the year end
ing June 30. 1918, were $50, 229. 20. Dur
ing this period 1898, 666.45 was spent
on the road, which was resurfaced witt
dustless bituminous binder through
out its entire length of 80 miles, and III
addition approximately 100000 Is
spent on permanent concrete and stee
bridges. Notwithstanding this large
expenditure, there remained a com
Portable surplus.
With one single exception, every
bridge on the Valley Turnpike was re
placed with either steel or concrete
The road bed was in such good repair
that no reconstruction work has beer
necessary during the four years it ha
been under state control.
During the period served as presi
dent, the rate of tolls was consider
ably reduced, yet the income wa
greatly increased.
To satisfy your thirst for knowledge
regarding the Valley Turnpike, l cal
your attention to the following com
parison of the cost of maintenance undo
the Valley Turnpike Company and un
der your administration as administers,
by your appointee, Mr.. Coleman:
Comparative maintenance of the Val
ley Turnpike under Valley Turn
pike Co. for three years.
Year Maintenance Av. per mil
1916 $50, 46; 1881
1917 3O,4S3 331
1918 46,O69 500