Evening star., 1924-02-01
Opposes Bridge Plan.
Writer Proposes Substitute Step
for Virginia.

10 the Editor Of The Star:
In The Sunday Star I noticed an
editorial regarding a proposed bridge
across the Potomac river at either
j Whites Ferry or Edwards Ferry,
| leading in from Montgomery county,
Md, to Loudoun county, Va. with the
| object Of connecting the Valley of
Virginia with Washington.
Having had more or less experience
In the past eight or ten years in road
building, I feel I have a right to at
least express an opinion On the sub
. ject.
If the people of the valley of vir-
ginia desire to be brought in close
contact with the Capital Of the ma
|. tton the most logical direct and in
expensive route would be over the
old pike from Winchester to Wash
ington, as alluded to in your edi-
1 torial. No better foundation can be
laid.
The state has already taken over a
few scattering miles of this long dis
tance, but there is still left miles
maybe not impassable, but somewhat
discreditable to the state-whtch has
magnificent past and glorious pres
ent and holding out untold possibili-
ties for future generations. Her peo-
pie should therefore at least keep up
with the progress Of time.
| nave the misfortune Of being
president of two good road associa- :
tions. one from Washington to
Dranesville via Langley, and the
| other from Dranesville to Leesburg,
both chartered under the laws OF the
state or Virginia. The section from
Washington to Dranesville is an alb
solutely good road all the year round,
regardless OF critics, with the ex-
ception OF one mile originally built
by the state. the surface Of which has
peen worn away. 1t is true this road
IS narrow and in some places crook ed,
! but 1t meets with the approval of ali
excepting the men whose financial as
Sistance was lacking when it was
changed from the worst road in the
world Gn this I do not limit IL to any
section) to an oil-bound, up-to-the-
minute macadam road.
me section from Dranesville to
Leesourg was never comfortably
traversable by automobile until a
company or which am also president
resuriaced IT about ten years ago. A
few progressive citizens of Virginia
ana washington put their good money
into this movement, not by the pur-
, cnase or bonds, but simply common
STOCK: Ihey have not received a
penny return upon their inyestr,e,t
as every cent from the toll gates has
oeen put back in repairs. This sec
tion is not an Outbound macadann. it
is true. but IT is hard surface twelve
months in the year made and kent so
by private funds, and thereby trans
formed from an impassabIe. seldom
traVeled roadbed of the one-hundred-
yearS-ago type to a good road over
"RiGn % one can comfortably travel.
nat the state Of Virginia should IN
instead of considering the b,,iidine ~ .
bridge across the Potomac TO cSnnert
the valley of Virginia with the nation g
tapltal through another state is TO take
ington to Winchester, remove the toll
sdtes and connect with the valley pike.
state oo ~ eIe
bill has been introduced In the Vir-
ginla legislature for this purpose. but
the chances are that some enerpetic
member Of the Virginia house of dele
gates Will get consideration for a road
.i .tiaolng from nowhere. with Its destina-
ton just as remote. and thereby again
leave out the rehabilitation OF a first
class roadbed from the nations Cap,tal
to the fertile fields of the Valley of Vir-
ginia and the health giving breezes of
the Blue Ridge.
have little patience with a commu-
nifty which hesitates to assist, or op-
poses good roads movement, nor does
| any action of the people meet my ap-
| probation when il votes down q bond
| Issue FOR that purpose.
A bond issue for the Improvement of
| a states highway system is just as I'M
portant to the welfare of the state as
| the borrowing of money by live and
progressive merchant is for his tenn
porary business extension or for the
anticipated growth of his business and
the natural demand OF the community in
which he lives and business competition
becomes evident
My main object in this article is to
show, IL can, the folly II would be in
my Judgment for the state OF Virginia
| to try to reach the nations Capital
through Maryland rather than to build
its roads within its own borders as out
lined above.
The state needs better roads and the
business necessities Of the people have
a right to demand them.
ROBERT n HARPER.