Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-16
Warning Issued
In Virginia Bid
For More Men
BY PAUL HOPE
Star stan Correspondent

~AA1&AAANNA = NANt v De- AWE AOs-
A State police captain calling
for the hiring of more State
highway patrolmen here yester-
day based his plea on the States
rights issue.
Capt. w. w. Blythe, commando
ing officer of the Sd Division Of
State police, made the plea be-
fore the 10th annual Virginia
Highway Conference at Virginia
Military Institute. The confer
ence ends today.
The huge Federal aid highway
program, Capt. Blythe said, will
create the need for many addi-
tional patrolmen and much new
equipment. Virginia should pre-
pare to fight any Federal pro-
posal to move into the highway
patrol field in the State. he said,
by taking action now to author
ize expansion Of the State police
force and its facilities.
In an obvious reference to the
Supreme Courts desegregation
decision, Capt. Blythe said there
had been too much Federal en-
Icroachment on the State already.
He said there should be uniform
.ltraff1c regulations on the inter.
] state system, but the laws should
,Ibe passed by the individual
\ States.
/ Joint Proposal
He recommended that the Vir-
ginia State police and the High
way Department present a Joint
proposal for traffic regulations to
the Virginia General Assembly.
He said the department also
should work with other States
in efforts to coordinate inter.
state traffic laws.
Capt. Blythe said the State
police force will have to be
greatly expanded to adequately
police the 1912 miles of freeway
to be built under the Federal
program. He said the General
Assembly should provide for ex-
ipansion in time to meet the need
as soon as the new highways
open.
A great expansion of industry,
commerce, residential develop
ment and recreation was FORE
cast for Virginia by Mai. Gen.
Louis w. Prentiss, former dis
trict commissioner and now
executive vice president Of the
American Road Builders Associ-
alton with headquarters in
Washington.
Gen. Prentiss. now retired,
said the limited-access, high
speed freeway will reduce travel
time and open UP new areas for
development.
Location Problems
He said there will be many
problems Of location and right
of way to be solved, and some
people will be inconvenienced so
that the many may benefit. He
warned that location problems
which could "tie up the whole
program" must be avoided.
\ w. F. Smith, urban engineer
for the State Highway Depart
ment, said first work on the S7O0
million Virginia program will
have to begin in the urban areas
where population growth is caus-
ing land value to skyrocket.
We've got to get into de-
lveloping areas and tie down the
lrights-of-way before we have To
spend all our money on them"
Mr.. Smith said.
! He said the system would az
feet So towns and cities. Many
miles Of highway will have 10
be relocated. he added. OF the
1912 miles in the proposed sys-
item, 88l miles win be through
rural areas. 1877 through urban
areas and 4 miles are Fed
orally controlled on Shirley high
way.
Alexandria Route
Mr.. Smith said that the only
suitable right-of-way through
corporate areas is 3-mile
stretch on Shirley highway
through Alexandria and some
small sections in Norfolk.
A. E. johnson, executive sec
Rotary Of the American Associa-
ton Of state Highway Of1cials,
said the limited-access princi-
{ pie is the greatest single ad-
vance In highway design In mod
ern times" He predicted that
the need for safe and eflcient
movement Of traffic would lead
10 public demand for extension
Of the Federal highway program
beyond the i5-year period set
up IN the new Law.