Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-15
Extract From
Governor Trinkle's lnau-
gural Address
Concerning Reorganization
of the Highway De-
partment

Next to schools and health, unques-
tionably the thing now uppermost IN
the minds of the people OF the otatg
is the development OF our otate anu
and county highway systems.
Certainly nothing could, give me
greater pride during the four years
of NV administration than to feel that
[ had been able to play an humble
part in the advancement OF ready
and convenient means OF transporta-
ton for our people in order that tney
NAV better enjoy a closer acqualnt-
anceship and have an economical way
Of conveying their products 10 the
market.
The times in which we now 1--we
demand that Virginia have q modern
highway system, and we must 1uily
recognize that the day of impossible
and badly constructed roads should
no longer be tolerated. The qulckness
Of our State growth along all INES
IS to be greatly measured by the
speed which we develop in our high
way construction work. Therefore, we
are led to the conclusion that our
road program must be one that calls
for as rapid construction as may pc
consistent with economical and Dusl-
nesslike administration.
During the last twelve months, 1t
has been my privilege to visit some
ninety of the one hundred counties IN
VIRGINIA. as we'll as the twenty-five
cities. | have spoken before thousands
of Virginia people and have consulted
with hundreds of them respecting our
road development. l do feel that l
certainly have reasonable knowledge
Of what the people demand
It is my duty, as your Governor, to
place before you the conclusions that
have been reached concerning the
needs and wishes of our people, so
as to secure their actice support Of
really constructive road program.
In my anxiety to test out the sug-
gcstions that | am going to make re-
lativc to the now law that should be
written for the formation of the High.
department, have consulted
with 7expert. roadbuilders from other
States, and with a great many OF our
leading and, in my Judgment, wise
thinking patriotic Virginia citizens,
all free of any known political an1bl-
tions. That the people may know my
endeavor to seek competent advice ana
help in accordance with my pre-elec-
ton promise has been an honest one,
| NAV say that, in addition to many
other conferences, on Tuesday, Jan
nary II, | conferred with thlrty-two
prominent business men from all walks
of life and from all sections Of Vlr-
p;nia, who were selected with no other
thought than their outstanding repu-
tation as cautious and clearthlnklng
men.
After full and thorough discus
sion, the recommendation as to reor-
canizaticn of the department which |
now make were unanimously Endorsed
By this body of representative cltl-
Zens.
trust that | may be pardoncd for
stating that, as the chief executive
of the State, | realize that the. peo-
r!c look TO me for resu IS; and this
means that ! am intensely interested
in the formation Of this department.
further realize that 1t becomes my
DUTY to meet this situation with no
thought other than what l conceive TO
be ghe best interest of the State, and
rot to take counsel Of any fear may
have that my recommendations may
disp!casc any individual or individuals
who NAV be in some degree personally
affected.
In other words, the question OF a
uroporlv organized Highway Depart
ment is one of far greater import