Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-13
Spirit Of Virginia's Press
Richmond Disnppoint. Us.
cThe Newport N.ws Press

iIhe Newport Nrws Fress.)
We have often commended the public sptrIt
Of Richmond The best minds Of that town
usually run along tremendously with the hest
minds in other parts Of Virginia in matters
or public enterprise. Richmonders love their
own town with deep devotion. but they src
not provincial. They a IRE able 70 eee beyond
their imme diate environment Projects In ali
parts az the stat" for the upbuildinE Of Viz
s'na appeal 10 Richmonders. and Richmond
IS usually responsive. whether II he a South
west project, or project OF the Valley. or the
Piedmont. or Tidewater. Richmond has been
particularly responsive Hampton Roads
projects and has rendered valuable AID and
when II was recently proposed to raise a fund
~ $500 600 to advanc" TO the State Highway
commission for the completion Of the Coast
to-Capital road. Richmond was nut down
FOR one-third OF It. There was no doubt in
tn" minds OF President Murray and his as.o-
ciates Of the Hampton Roada- Gloucester High
way Association that Richmond would re-
spond. Richmond's part was assumed with
confidence
Their" were two reasons for this confidence
N" first being R!chmond's traditional public
spirit and lberality. and tho second that tho
money To be used to build tbs Richmond
end % tho road. Provision had already been
mad" for tho extension Of tho road from Lee
Hail 10 'Toano and beyond and all hands a,
this end OF the road presumed mat Richmond
would jump AZ the proposal build her end
OF IL. The Hampton Roads district has agreed
TO put NJ two-thirdE Of the money tn huild tho
Richmond end. hut Richmond hesitatcs to nut
w the other third,
II IL SO un!ik" Richmond that We arc little
loss than ainazcd
Why Richmond heat,a.e, IT,. ,,
reason We near !. that OF Rchmond's
citizens do not like the route that they nrc,cr
IN" west f"!nt route. which, thoy say would
help IN" trad" OF Richmond. That Also 10 nm.
Ike Richmond. The Peninsula road is no,
local road 10 be twisted this way and that FOR
convenience 10 n state
signed TO connect the Hampton Roads dis.
trict with the State capital and the svs,cun NJ
roads st Richmond with tho system OF roads
At Hampton Roads. Local roads may tan I,
her" ann there, but that II Incidental 10 the
main project.
Richmonds idea seems be to delay tho
entire project in tho hop. that tho ncxt Gcn-
era' Assembly may he induced to chanpe thu
route 10 suit tho convenience OF Richmond
ana "Het Point; with n view to subordinstinr
IN" general interest to local fnterests
Very unlike Richmond. we repeat Vary
nnliE" tho Richmond spirit, and we cannot he
Lev" that II represents tho ssnt1men, OF tn.
CITY as Hhol". And. besides we ID no. hs
hsr. that the object OF the delay would be &C
compIish"h. When tho General Assembly was
ihst IN session. the question OF route was can
Nhtted and argued before the Roads Com
mite" The central route had been reoon.
nendrd by the State Highway Commission
a. the most direct and tho shortcut route and
Notwithstanding tho stout arguments mad. NV
Richmo nders and citizens from the Yves, Point
section. the committee adopted the central
route and the General Assembly fncorporatcd
IL In the act.
Thor" IA no raa.on TO believe that the M, I
Genera Assembly would make the chanae do.
sired by Richmond and West Point Dich
mona should ACCEPT tn" decision Of III. General
Assembly as fnal and Join with HAMPTON
h"ads In buiiffnR the highway nv mo estab
iltheh route ~ Richmond viii not coma
along. tho probability is that Norfolk Nav
port News Hampton and WILLIAMSBURG U1l,
place 100000 In the hands Of the state High
way Commission and let them buiid the ,o,a
beyond Toano an far as tho money viii carry
IL in that event tho Hampton Roads dist riot
vii! reap tho dement's Of the road. and Rich
Inonf VIII not.
| or cour,e that 10 throat II In merely
the statement Of probability. which IL
| worthy 81 Riahmond'r confederation. But W.
hopo thsre win DO occasion for this pieo,
| meal bustness. What in needsd Ia a trunk lin.
l b"twe"n Richmond and Hampton Roads by tht
most d1rent ropte and with tho ,eaat possibi,
delay In onnsbuction. Coma on Richmond
and taks ,pottSsk tsfth yous. nexhhor1