Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-06
ROAD CHIEF MAKES PLEA
FOR FINANCIAL PROGRAM
IL. G. Shirley Addresses High
way Rally and Picnic in
Goochland.
WOULD KNOW FUNDS AVAILABLE
Snys Commission Ii SERVANT OF tho
iNcoplo to Build Their ThoruuEh-
farrS, and trcar,is Ut Department
Arc Open.

People to build Their thorough
far~S, and Hccar,is .f Department
Arc Open.
Interest IN tho building OF State
highways. and tho section O. the
state highway from Onylls TO Zion.
on tho old Three Chopt Road. was
strongly in evidence 1T the good
roads rally and picnic held yester-
day at Hadcnsvilic. Gooohland Coun-
~. Tho principal addresses vera
made by II. @, Shirley. chairman OF
tho State Highway Commission: Sem
ntor James L, Cannon. OF Richmond;
Delegate George \. Dowics. OF Tab
SCOTT and V. y. l. Robinson. exeou-
two secretary OF the Virginia Good
Roads Association A. tho conclusion
OF tho speaking. which was heard by
q crowd OF over soA, local good roads
associations were organized for the
Improvement 81 roads IN Goochland
ana Fluvaaup Counties.
- Wants Definite Program.
Apleo for a definite financial pro-
sram covering NJ least three years
10 be provided by tho General AS
sembly, was made ny Chairman Shir-
ley, o: the State Highway Commits
sion. Mr. Shirley stated that the
state Highway Department. IS now
uuderg ding REORGANIZATION under the
new commission. To do the work
efficiently 4 Is important TO know
how-much money the people OF Vir-
ginis want TO e1pend annually over
given period so that the organiss-
ton. could be built accordingly. He
explained how the knowledge OF JUST
what money would be available FOR
constructlon would have an effect on
the maintenance OF the State high
way system IL the construction work
is to proceed slowly ON the limited
FUNDS now available. a different
kind OF maintenance. v Ould be re-
quired on road 30. completed
where II was known that the ROAD
could not DC constructed :or num-
ber~o: years, than /: the State was
in q position TO plan the rcconstrnc-
time.
Mr.. Shirley stated that tho state
Highway Commission is the servant
OF the people, appointed BY the Gov
crnor 10 build roads FOR tho people
OF the State. He said that the rec.
ords o: what the department IS do
ing are open to citizens OF the STATE
and they arc fire" to call on the Stat"
Bighwav Department for !ntormn
ton they may want rclative to the
work OF tho department and tn"
money expended hy the State foI
state highway construction Mr.
Shirley stated that the department Is
now preparing 10 turn out completed
plans for coo miles az highway per
annum. This mileage could be in
creased 1. tho people OF the state de-
sired the State system 10 he ouiit NJ
a more rapid rate. The commission.
no stated. would cndcavor 10 carry
on the work OF building the highways
IN such q way as TO avoid the croh-
ton OF abnormal conditions as TO
labor and materials in tho communi-
,,cs In which tho roads are beinI
huit.
nn,,ies rrc~idrs at Session.
Delegate BOwics. representing
Gooohland and F!uvanna Counties,
who was largely responsible for tire
addition OF the road from ONville TO
Zion to tho state highway system
and who acted as chairman of the
meeting, gave an interesting talk on
the historical side OF the old Three
Chopt Road ard OF the various steps
in having IL made part OF the state
system.
V. d. 7. Robinson, executive sec
rotary OF tho Virginia Good koadS
Association discussed the consiruc-
lion OF the 1000 miles OF tho state
highway system from a business
standpoint. giving facts and figures
showing the relation ~ transpor'a-
tion TO farm values in tn" various
counties OF the state. He called at
ten.!om to the fact that there are NJ
teen rouUtlcS without mile OF rail
road; eighteen counties with less than
twenty Ave miles OF railroad and ten
additional COMMITTEES with poorly dis
lributed railroad usportatiou. No
one. ne said. .ou!d y~.Yect .hc con
struotion OF atdl,.1na" mileage OF
railroads. The motor truck and tho
improved highway on less than car
load shipments FOR short hauls is
more economical than the rai!rA,G.
The General Assembly lad out 1000
miles OF FUNK line highways reach
ing every county il the state which
when completed would provide sub
st!tute for the Inadequate rail trans
portat!on Figures taken from the
United States Agriculture! Census Of
1870 and 1920 were cited To show the
dir oct relation OF transportation TO
:Arm values IN counties served by
railroads As compared with cuun-
ties without rail- spor;ai!on. At
tho tim he census figures were com
piled tETou.a highway contribution.
excapiias N the Shenandoah Valley.
lad not developed 10 n. point where
they AZ e"ted farm values. u was
= question for the people to decide
;h-ouEh i,elr representatives how
quickly th!a subsri:G;s for rail trans
oo-saiiUn saol,d y. provided by tho
state-
SeI1cp- Iau". +. Cannon called at
tent!on - the Limited funds avail
able fr- Stale Highway obstruction
IN Y-g!a!a FOR 1929. lie said that
II the poyD." ~ Virginia want thr!r
h!Sh-ay Lg.l: in a reasonable time.
u VII % necessary .pr them. through
their Gers!a. Assembly. 70 provide
ne E1o-iry- There ar only Two Yays
~ DO thin. lie aid. \ genera! direc,
lax and Inc borrowing o.: money
tHr1&h boad hsue Ia would
not VOC ,Gr Grec; tar Or dl he
believe fn".y other members .! e:;her