BETTER HIGHWAY TO THE MOUTH OF JAMES RIVER
Country People Start Movement for Auto Road From Richmond to Newport News.
THE CHICKAHOMINY ASSOCIATION
Highway Building Organization Inspired by Rural School Teacher- To Make Route Shorter and better.
The teacher of the Mt. Pleasant School, near Roxbury, Va., several weeks ago announced to some of her patrons that the next league meeting would he a good-roads meeting, and invited all to he present. From this meeting a movement developed which promises not only to improve some of the roads in the neighborhood of Mt Pleasant School, In Charles City County, but the movement has spread into portions of three counties.
It promises to develop one certain piece of road that will be of interest to several hundred Richmond people, including agents from wholesale houses, lumbermen, club men, Chickahominy fishermen and tourists. In addition to being a great benefit and convenience to the natives along its way.
This work is just in its infancy, having reached its present proportions in a little more than two weeks. So many substantial and energetic people have become interested that, as a result, all the people are aroused along this road.
On the night of May 2 a meeting of Charles City and New Kent people was held in the Masonic Building at Providence Forge. The work of aiding and improving the roads was taken up In a systematic way. An organization was formed, to be known as the Chickahominy Highway Association, with the following officers: Fred S. Bock, president, Roxbury, Va.; W.P. Tunstall, chairman board of supervisors New Kent County, treasurer, Roxbury, Va., and R.E. Mountcastle, secretary, Providence Forge, Va.
NEW ROAD FROM RICHMOND DOWN TO NEWPORT NEWS
The work that this association is undertaking for this year will be devoted chiefly to one piece of road. The plan is to begin at the Henrico line, in Charles city County, three miles west of Roxbury; thence across the long bridges to Mountcastle by way of Providence Forge, Windsor Shades, Walkers and Diascund, where it joins a good dirt road to Toano, Williamsburg and on to the macadamized road into Newport News.
The starting point on the Henrico line, three miles west of Roxbury, can be reached by four different roads from Richmond, viz.: the Darbeytown Road, the Fort Lee Road, the Seven Pines Road and the New Market Road; the latter, leading by Curl's Neck, being the longest route. The difference in the distances between the Darbeytown Road, the Fort Lee Road and the Seven Pines Road is not over one and one half miles, but undoubtedly the best road hiring bad weather Is the Seven Pines Road, for the reason that it is; nearly all macadamized to the Henrico line, and will be completed by the middle of the summer.
From the Henrico line to Roxbury the road is in fair condition for automobiles now; from Roxbury to Providence Forge, the road is in bad condition, but being improved at this time by private subscription, aided by the board of Supervisors.
A BIG WORK BY DETERMINED PEOPLE
This work is no small undertaking, but the people are not going to be discouraged, showing their willingness to aid with their money and work. The Chickahominy Association is asking all who are interested In a better road and a shorter route from Newport News to Richmond to aid in this work with their money and labor.
One hundred dollars was raised by the people in the neighborhood of Roxbury and from a few Richmond tourists, aided by a like amount from the supervisors, and the bad places in the road were repaired from the Henrico line to Roxbury, This expenditure is to be supplemented later by the regular appropriation allowed for this road, along with other amounts that may be subscribed. Another $100 was subscribed by the people between Roxbury and Providence Forge, which is to be met by a like amount by the District Supervisor, which amount is to be used between Roxbury and Providence Forge. The subscription paper for this road has only been in circulation for three days. It is the intention of the association to bring this movement to the attention of the various Richmond and Newport New clubs along the Chickahominy River. A person traveling from Newport News to Richmond by automobile is never farther than one and a half miles from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, making it easy to reach the railroad at any time.
The subscriptions are used in each case on the section of the road that the subscribers may designate, and is nearly as possible on any specific spot they may name. As the money will be spent by the county supervisors. who are co-operating with the association it is left to their discretion, to a certain extent, as to how the different amounts may be spent. The work will depend largely upon the amounts subscribed and the number of times the road equipment would have to be moved.
WILL KEEP THE PUBLIC FULLY ADVISED OF PROGRESS
A complete report will be made and published in three months, showing the work that the organization is doing, and the amount and manner in which the money was raised and spent. At the end of this period the association inspects to he able to inform automobilists that a fair automobile route is open for them from Richmond to Newport News, by way of Roxbury, Providence Forge. Windsor Shades and Diascund, which, at all points. is near the C & O Railroad and is eleven miles shorter than the route by way of Bottoms Bridge. Talleysville, New Kent Courthouse and Barhamsville.
If any one wishes further information or people wish to aid in this public benefit movement they have only to correspond with the officers of the association named above.
President Bock say: "It is earnestly hoped that work of this nature will be heartily supported everywhere as the benefit is for all both in pleasure and business, and especially for our school children. What man would not help our children in such a move for better roads, better schools and better life in the country."
-Times Dispatch, 10 May 1914
The year saw the completion of the Newport News highway known as the Pocahontas Trail. The work this year was between Richmond and Toano, a distance of 41.3 miles. This, like that part of the highway from Toano to the coast is of concrete except a stretch of 5.2 miles of asphaltic concrete* between Richmond and Seven Pines, and a link of ten miles of gravel roadway between Bottoms Bridge and Norge. The road between Bottoms Bridge and New Kent Courthouse was graded and drained and partly graveled during the year. This is section is thirteen miles in length.
-News Leader, 27 December 1924
* i.e. blacktop
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