Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1922-06-06
HENRY C. SHIRLEY APPOINTED
j CHAIRMAN OF VIRGINIA
HIGHWAY COMMISSION.

Henry G. Shirley, a native of
Summit Point, who spent his boy
shood days near Charles Town and
went to school at the old Charles
Town academy, has been appointed
by Gov. Trinkle as Chairman of the
new Virginia Highway Commission
and will have charge Of the tremen-
dous task of building Virginia's high
way system upon an economic and
!. business-like plan.
Mr.. Shirley was born at the
/ Locust Grove" farm near Summit
Point, and was the son of the late
Maj. Robert Shirley and Mrs. Julian
Baylor Shirley. His brother now
lives on the home farm and his
sisters in Charles Town
salaryed official in Virginia. He will
be paid $4,000 year, and no other
state official will receive that COM
pensation unless it is an officer I'M
der the fee system. His salary will
be 2h times greater than the
Governors.
Mr.. Shirley made his reputation in
Maryland as a road builder. He had
a great deal to do with the con-
struction of the splendid system of
highways in that state, and was one
of the men Gov. Trinkle asked to
come to Richmond for a conference
on roads shortly after his election
as Governor.
A man of about as years. of age,
in the very prime Of life, Mr.. Shir-
ley combines, with every natural
advantage, a wealth of diversified
experience. He is graduate of the
| Virginia Military Institute, from
which institution he holds the degree
of civil engineer. The degree of
doctor of science has been conferred
on him by the Maryland State Uni
versity. 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 High
way Council, interested in the pro-
motion 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 of time in the engineer
ing department of roads and sewers
for the District of Columbia.
He directed surveys for extension
work on the Virginian from Durbin
to Sewell's Point, 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 8 years he has served
as road engineer for Baltimore
county, Maryland, in charge of the
construction of roads, streets and
sewers. He is at present roads and
sanitary. engineer for Baltimore
county.
Governor Trinkle, who is frankly
gratified at the acceptance of his
appointment, said 81 think un-
questionably Shirley is the biggest
road man in this country From the
STANDPOINT OF an executive in road
building he appears to be as good, il
not better than the best. | do not
speak at random, but have reached
this conclusion after minute and ex
haustive study of road work all over
the United States, beginning at the
Pacific coast and coming East.
feel that Virginia is to be congratu
lated over its good fortune in secur
ing the services of an engineer who
as road builder, enjoys national
reputation"
Under provisions of that act of the
recent General Assembly reorga.
mixing the Virginia State Highway
Department the chairman of the
State Highway Commission will, in
reality, be the state highway com.
missioner, the actual head and gov.
ernoring director of the entire high.
way department. AS such, his i'm.
portance to the State will probably
be second to that of no one employee
of the Commonwealth. Governor
Trinkle believes that Mr.. Shirley will
demonstrate the wisdom of his