Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-04
CARLOAD A DAY SENT
HERE BY GOVERNMENT
Largest Automotivc Plant in State Operated by High
way Department at the Pcnitentiary- Stock There
Is Estimated to Be Worth Sl,25O,OOO

Even in these days of big busi-
moss. an organization which has un-
uer It's direction $4,000, 900 worth OF
motor vehicle and road building
equipment Will hardly be considered
small concern. The possession Of
thlS amount OF equipment In the
name Of the state Is only small
part OF tho Job ahead OF the equip
msnt division Of the Virginia state
Highway Department. The trcnen-
dous task which the equipmen; di-
vision not only has undertaken. but
IL doing well. liz to take this varied
stock OF thousand different items
which Is sent 10 Richmond at the
rate Of a carload n day by the Fed
cTnl government and make Il ser
viccable
The cquipmen. division In doing
NOR" than th!s. II Is getting tho ma
tcrlal used in the construction and
maintenance Of State and county
highways In ouch a way that 81 VIII
produce actual cash revenues sun
Client TO take care of the overhead
Of the division and to provide a
surplus to replace the equipment
given TO tho state by tho govern
mcnt after II Is worn out. Tn other
words expressed BY CommI.-
sioner George +. Coleman. Il !s the
Intention Of the department 10 CON
serve the value OF the assets - ga
100000 NJ cquir~cnt 70 that In hvs
or ten years az longer from now tho
Stat. VIII have tho equipment to do
tho work ahead Of II.
Cost Less Than Rental
The trucks. tractors. power plant,
etc. must earn their replacernnn
value. Their rental Is charged 10
each particular Job. Tools and ma
terials are charged UP at their In
ventoried value. The same plan Is
followed when the State Is dealing
with tho counties. The cost IN every
case Is much loss than the equip
rent could be rented or tho ma
teriais furnished hy private concerns
in competition with tho equipment
division. How Virginia w!thstood
tn" temptation In sluandcr this i'm
m"nsc fortune in equipment dropped
down In her lap by bencncen, Fch
oral government is a story worthy
20 the ontirn space devoted 10 this
article. Th" anihzemcnt which 4
WISH n Tho plant storage ware
houses and yards ~ tho cquipmen,
division ~ IN" state Fcn!tontiary
produced hy the enormous amour,
~ material aud equipment on hand
h"wcv"r. drives ont for the momen,
all thought OF how the Virginia
STAT" Highway Department has ar,
rived Mt tho present plan OF con.
serving their resources.
AZ The State Penitentiary the in
vcntnrv o: stock and equipment IS
approximately sI.250.Oco. This in.
vcntory IL based on the actual value
10 tho state, and not IN. pnrchas -
price of tn" equipment Admittedly
|. s. 100000 would buy quito a number
NJ tricks. tractors. power plants
tools. etc. We'll the equipment d.
vision has 10000 square feet OF Noor
Hrace in the buildings and four acre!
Of yards packed and jnmmcd w!ti
equipment Even tho ceilings ar,
used 10 support bins IN which som,
OF tho materials are stored 4 cat
aloEue 81 the material there would
be larger than that OF any supply
house In the state. The quantitie,
run as nigh 10000 In Somc item.
and 5000 tons In the case OF bridge
iron. The remainder OF the $1,000
600 worth OF equipment ~ out or
various Jobs over the State and In
use hy the counties.
what is the State doing with this