The Washington times., 1922-05-28
H. c. SHIRLEY IS !
INAMED HEAD Of .
! VA. HIGHWAYS
Governor TrinkIe Glad Engineer
4 Will Accept Position Pay
ing $12,5oo a Year.
HAS VAST EXPERIENCE.
Did Much Work on Great Rail-
roads-Now Employed in
Baltimore County.

RICHMOND, Va, May 81
Announcement was made today by
Gov. E. Lee Trinkle that Henry G.
Shirley, formerly of Virginia but
now of Maryland, had accepted
appointment as chairman of the
Virginia State Highway Commits
sion with a salary of $l2,5OO a
year, the appointment to become
effective July 1.
Shirley is now roads and sani-
stary engineer for Baltimore county,
with headquarters at TowSon, Md.
He is regarded by highway ex-
perts as probably the leading road
builder and highway engineer in
the United States.
- Is zone Of the Best"
Governor Trinkle, who is frankly
@sratified at the acceptance OF his ap-
spointment, said today: II think un-
,uuestionably Shirley is the biggest
road man in this country. From the
Standpoint of an executive in ROAD
building he appears to be as good,
II not better, than the best. l DO
not speak at random. but have reach
ed this conclusion after minute ana
exhaustive study of roa dwork all
over the United States, beginning at
the Pacific coast and coming East
I feel that Virginia is to be con-
graduated over it's good fortune in
securing the services of an engineer
who, as a road builder, enjoys ma
tional reputation"
Under provisions Of that act Of
the recent General Assembly reur-
,ganizing the Virginia State Highway
Department the chairman Of the State
Highway Commission will, in reality.
be the state highway commissioner,
the actual head of and governing dl-
rector Of the entire highwav depart
ment. AS such, his importance to
the State will probably be second to
that of no one employe Of the Com
monwealth. Governor Trinkle be-
.Geves that Shirley will demonstrate
almost Immediately the wisdom of
his choice.
So important did the General Az
aembly regard the selection Of the
state road head for Virginia that the
question Of salary was left open. the
governor to exercise his own discre-
tion in this matter, absolutely ur-
hampered. The salary settled upon
1Uy IHS executive anu uCNtDltd wv
Shirley Is said to be less than that
now enjoyed by the engineer, who
was doubtless actuated in his acccp.
tance by the dignity of the new Of.
flee, the fact that ne Is himself a
Virginian, and the opportunity for
service offered.
Worked in District Of Columbiq.
A man Of about forty-five years OF
age. in the very prime of life. Shlr-
ley combines, with everv natural nd
vantage, a wealth of diversified ex-
perience. He is a graduate OF the
Virginia Military Institute, from
which institution he holds the degree
of civil engineer. The degree of
doctor Of science has oeeI conferred
on him by the Maryland State Uni
yersity. He was for six years state
highway engineer for Maryland. IN
charge Of construction work for the
entire system of highways in that
State.
He saw service on the highway
Transportation committee, Council of
National Defense, during the period
of the war. He Is secretary and
treasurer OF the Federal Highway
Council, interested in the .romotion
Of highways and roads throughout
the country. For two years he was
employed in important engineering
work by the New York Central and
Hudson River Railway Company,
after which he served for a like
period in the engineering department
Of roads and sewers for the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
He directed surveys for extension
work on the West Virginia Central
from Durbin, w. Va, to SeweIl's
Point, Va, for the handling Of coal
and iron ore. For four years he
served as assistant engineer for the
baltimore and Ohio Railroad. di-
recting surveys, location and con
.struction. For eight years he has
served as roads engineer for BaIti-
more county, Md, in charge of the
construction OF roads, streets and
sewers. He is at present roads and
sanitary engineer for baltimore
county.
s.