Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-10-28
sHgN aNDoAH Ro\D MEETING.

sHEy aNDoAH ROAD MEETING.
AT an unusually large aud respectable
meeting of the citizens of this county,
held at the court house on Monday the
18th inst agreeably to public notice,
Va Tam Sic nbergea, esq. of Mount
Airy, was called to the chair, and jas.
III. SHlOOt, of Woodstock, appointed Sc
cretary.
The obje ct ofthe meeting having been
stated by the chairman, Joel Penny
hacker, esq. after having made some
predatory remarks, introduced the fol-
lowing resolution, which having received
the consideration of the meeting, was
adopted:
RESOLVED, That committee of seven
be appointed by the chair, to draft a
memorial to the president of the United
States, relative to the contemplated ma
tional road between the city OF Wash
ington and New Orleans, and urging
the propriety of directing the survey to
be made 30 as the road should strike the
valley at some point between Frederick
town. in Maryland, and Sniggers's Gap;
and that the said committee do transmit
the memorial without delay to the exc
cutive of the United States. The fol-
lowing gentlemen we're appointed. to
compose the committee, viz: Joel PEN
nybacker, Robert Allen, Gabriel Jor
dan, David Stickley, Charles U. Low
ell, Philip Williams, Jun. and James IL.
Smoot.
On motion of w. W. Payne, esq the
chairman of this meeting was added to
the committee.
On motion of DIR. Irwin, Resolved,
That these proceedings be published in
the Shenandoah Herald, and that the
different editors of the valley be request
ed to re-publish the same.
VIM. STEINBERGEN, Chairman.
j. II. oMoor, Secretary.
{ The following is The memorial to the
president.
Your memoriaIists would refrain from
making any remarks as to tie constitu-
tonality OF sucn a measure, its expe-
dieney must be apparent to all.
They are aware that in the location
of the road, the directness of the route,
economy ia its construction, its dura-
bllity, convenience in the transportation
of the mail, in travelling aud carrying
the produce of the country to market,
will be taken into view direct route
is not practicable, nor, as your memo
rialists conceive, ought to be regarded,
but in subordination to other more i'm
portant considerations. Your memori-
alsts are convinced that the general in
terests of the country will be promoted
by crossing the Blue Ridge somewhere
in Virginia, and, as they believe, at a
point not farther south than Snigger's
Gap. They beg leave TO state some of
the reasons which induce them to believe
that it mad better cross the Ridge thus
far north, than to pass along its eastern
side. The country is more level in the
valley rock and gravel, the principal
materials in the formation of turnpike
road, will be easily obtained, as in ma
ny places they win be found Immediate
ly on the road, and at no place more
than a mile from it. The rock is of
limestone, and when the road is once
constructed, it will be more durable,
and much less liable to wash, than if
made Of flint. The soil under the Ridge
is chiefly composed of a stiff, heavy red
clay, and many places, stone and gra-
vel viii be procured with difficulty
Provisions are more abundant s. cheap
er; the white population is more dense;
and labor lower in the valley than ON the
east side Of the ridge.
Ii the road is carried through the val
ley, it will, between Winchester and
otaanton, distance of about % miles,
pass BY eleven post offices, and through
eight towns AMI villages. Winchester,
the largest of them, contains about 5000
inhabitants, has two banks established
in it, and is place of considerable
trade.
The people in the valley have farther
to carry their produce to market than on
the east side Of the Ridge, and conse-
quently need good road, and the Dis
trict OF Columbia is their market place.
They therefore pray that the presi-
dent of the United States will cause a
survey to be made Of the route recon-
mended in their memorial, according to
the act of congress, passes at the last
session, authorizing surveys for roads
and canals.