Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-05-26
c. c. LEWIS SR. MAKES REPLY


Of Commerce. 10 the citizens of Raj
ci2h County who have 50 severely
criticised the position of that body
as to the location Of Midland Trail.
Mr.. Lewis article is 50 fair. So re-
plctc with facts and sets forth the
conditions SO truthfully that ", re.
produce il in its full length. This
fair statement should be appreciate
ed by every one. 1t appeared i'll the
Gazette on the | ith.
Recent CRITICS by citizens of
Hinton and Bcckley and by news
papers Of Raleigh and Summers
counties, directed against the Char
lesion chamber Of commerce for
attitude in relation to the Midland
Trail us an interstate highway
across the southern part of West
Virginia; also directed against the
Slate Road Commission: also direct
cd against the BANKS of Charleston.
has reached Il point in It's inaccur-
:icy and unfairncS> to all concern
ed that ii became necessary for the
Charleston chamber Of commerce
good roads committee TO issue The
following statement of facts. which
is >ubmittd to the public and press:
"Thc Charleston chamber OF com
mcrcc ten Years ago recognized that
West Virginia never would ha.v
Il State highway system Or would
be connected With our national
highway system unless ii pur>!lrS
and continuously urged the policy
Of The completion Of one through
highway across !hc State first. and
chat local feeling and sentiment
must be set to one side in urging
the completion cf 4 new route
RcSolu,ion Of Charleston Chamber
of Commerce. May "a. 1860
1T Was this policy, reflected re-
pcatcdly in meeting of the Charles
ton chamber of commerce, reflect
ed by resolution, and reflected by
official action. both by many boards
OF directors consisting Of some of
the most representative citizens Of
CharlcSton.) and by meeting Of the
chamber of commerce as Il whole.
that tie actions of the chamber and
It's officers are devoted continuously
10 urging the completion Of orr
through Interstate federal route,
east and west from Kentucky bord-
CT to the Virginia border across the
State of West Virginia and naturally
including Charleston in lis route.
The question Of name. whether
kanawha and James River turn
pike. Or State Highway No. ,. or
Midland Trail. was not important
as compared Will: this first and par
amount consideration. 1t was with
this dominant idea in mind, and an
idea which, by the way. is domin-
ant in the minds of our State Road
Commission and of the federal road
authorities today, that the Charles
ton chamber of commerce official
ly welcomed and organized, Us far
as the State of West Virginia was
concerned, the Midland Trail asso-
citation, and which officially adopt
cd, prior to any constituted State
authority, the route of the Kanawha
and James River turnpike rs its in
terstatc federal roMtc across this
State. AGING upon our suggestion.
this route was included in the ma
lonal highway designation made
by the Midland Trail association
OF Grand junction, Col. in 1912.
ana was again confirmed i'm 1916,
and since that time has been known
designated and advertised us Such.
The position Of the Charleston
charilcr Of commerce u. regard TO
Il mere name, however. vas thai il
bad nothing to do with the real
principle Of getting one interstate
federal route concentrated upon
and completed first. This is the
established policy Of the chamber
ana has been for eight or nine
years. as evidenced by the records.
Immediately after the crganiza
ton of the State Road Commission
and |ftcr the preliminary appro-
prlation OF fifteen million dollars
had been converted into cash and
was available for the road commits
sion to eNpcnd. the Charleston
chamber of commerce (Which num-
DcrS more than one thousand adj
dressed a letter TO the State Road
commission Of this State under
date Of September ~. 1921, signed
by t.. &. Lewis as Chairman of its
road committee on the authoriza-
tiOD IF the hoard &c J;ro.t,. $3.50 :,