The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-06-16
Victorious, Defeated Interstate Route
Forces, Commissioner Statements Made
Northern Link
Proponents Say
Fight Brewing
NO. IA

From both sides of the Interstate
Highway Route GA issue and from
the man who e S capped being
squarely in the middle, Highway
Commissioner Samuel D. May. have
come statements over the selection
of the southern route last week.
The Route $50 or northern link
losers unless the decision is
upset in Washington have re-
covered from reported surprise.
h c k and DISAPPOINTMENT suf-
fieiently to declare they will seek
reversal Of the decision.
a reversal would have to be made
at Washington, where approval by
the U. S. Bureau of Public Roads
and the Defense Department must
still be secured.
Northern Protest
The defeat advocates have sum
moned their forces all along the
Route $50 line from Goochland to
Highland county to 8 pm. meet
ing today Tuesday in Waynesboro.
It is expected the group will name
a committee to oppose the selection
before the federal roads bureau
and the Defense Department.
Approval of these federal agen-
cles is requirement because the
federal government supplies about
80 per cent of the construction
funds to 10 per cent or slightly
more for the states. A major en-
phasls for the interstate system is
national defense. hence the required
approval of the Defense Depart
ment
Commissioner May, who did not
nave to vote in the five-to-three Sc
lection Of the southern link, de-
scrlbed the decision as 1.-THE biggest
and most important" ever made by
the commission.
a he commissioner, questioned
about political motives behind the
decision and the payment of politi-
cal debts, as charged by the de-
feated forces, said.
Denies Pressure
The Governor has put no pres
sure on me in regard to the prob
lem May added that he and Gov
ernor Almond had never discussed
the location of the highway. What
part politics played in the decision
l don't know May added.
A m n the victorious forces
mostly jubilant except for m e
business proprietors interfering
note of they 'll-pass-us- by now in
reference to travellers, were state
ments from State Senator Mosby
G. Perrow, Jr., leader of the VIC
torious forces. and Congressman
Poff, Abbitt and Tuck.
Said PerroW: II have noted in
the press that there are those who
advocated the northern route who
have expressed their determination
TO carry the matter to Washington.
Virginia has additionally been
dedicated to the principal of states
rights. The State of Virginia, hav-
ing been given the right to locate
the highway, has exercised this
right. 1t is difficult to believe that
our friends in the northern part Of
the state would repudiate this prin-
ciple by again asking the federal
government to interfere and over
ride the states action
Poff, whose Sixth. District COM
prises much of the southern
artery's area said from Washington
that he can find no reason to be-
licve the state decision is not ac-
ceptable to Washington. In my con-
versations with the authorities of
the Bureau of Public Roads, he
said, Il have been given no reason
to believe that they will not ac-
cept the southern route"
Fourth District Congressman Alb
bit, a southern link advocate, said
he did not believe contest would
arise within the Virginia delegation
to Congress over the matter. Fifth
District Congressman William M.
Tuck said he felt the matter was
one for the Highway Commission
to decide.