Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-05-26
O. The Legislature of Maryla commenced
is extra session in Annapolis on Monday last.
For the Gag,
For the Gazctt
To The members Of The Berkeley County Court :

For the Gazette.
To the members Of The Berkeley County Court
GENrLEMEN IL am about to call your atten-
ton to a subject Of no little importance the con
sideration OF which, will become your duty at
the next monthly session. mean the proposed
road across the North Mountain at Boyd'S Gap,
and bridge across Back Greek, opposite that
point AS, doubt you are all well aware,
Commissioners were, some time since, appointed
by portion Of your honorable body, then IN
session, 10 view and report upon the expedlency
of such an undertaking by the county, and the
suitableness OF The proposed location, as well as
the probable expenditure requisite ior It's com
pletion. Upon the report OF the Commissioners
as you are likewise appriscd, there was an order
of Court, on Monday the 9Th inst. to summon
meeting of your body. at the June term, TO act
decisiyely on the matter; aud make, II in your
wisdom cxpedent after the necessary informa.
ton is received, lery for the purpose OF carry
ing the said road aud bridge into execution.
Believing, as do, that there some of
your honorable body, to whom every additional
ray of information would be pleasing, however
humble the source from which it ght enIanate,
| take the liberty, (and hope you Will not think
il presunptuous) to give few opinions on the
subject that | have gathered, not from mere
speculations, but from knowledge OF the mat
ter, which circumstances, not common TO many
of Y on, have rendered accessible. Levles OF mo
new should not be made for any purpose, with
out the most careful and patient investigation Of
the objects for which they are directed; and,
more especially is the remark true m relation to
our own county, whose citizens have been AREA
DIV taxed 10 a great extent for works OF undoubt
ed Importance. And lay ii down, as truth
TO which know you will yield consent, that
The interests and wishes OF majority OF those
for whose benefit any enterprise Is had IN view.
should always be carefully studied. The propo.
scd public improvements, being professcdly de-
signed for the use OF the people InhabIting the
district west Of the North Mountain, and Back
Creek particularly you viii, doubtless, at
glance, discover the propriety OF consulting, as
far as possible, their wishes, as the individuals
most interested. The people of that district,
claim il as a right TO receive some portion OF the
benefits of taxation as well as other districts,
that have had their claims answered by bridges
and roads already completed; and, when this
right is attended 10, they alone, should be called
upon to declare by majority, where those i'm
provements shall be located. And who can bet
ter know their wants than themselves!
Ii is fact, that the petition which lately ask
ed the Court TO locate the road and bridge al the
above spccfed points, contains the names OF but
n few of the inhabitants of Back Creek valley
a mere ninoriiy-whilst the great mass OF its
population, were scarcely aware OF the existence
Of such petition al the lime OF ITS presentation
many knowing absolutely nothing concerning
il, or its objects, Permit me 10 say, the great
majority Of the people west Of the North Noun
tain, and of Back Creek particularly, are at this
moment, entirely dissatisfied with the measure
proposed for your consideration; feeling conf
dent, as thew do, that a bridge high up as the
Mace proposed, would subscrve the interests Of
only few families and they believe, further
more, that the opening OF the mountain at point
so elevated as Boy DIS Gap. aud the construction
Of the Bridge, with the necessary completion Of
a road directly westward over region so billy,
would cost a far greater sum Of their money,
than the late commissioners have been led TO be-
lieve and after all be of very little utility to
even the fetc families gratiied thereby.
You are, no doubt, aware that, perhaps as
long as three years ago, Commissioners were
appointed to examine and report concerning all
the passes of the Mountain, aud fordngs of the
Creek, from Murphy's to the Bath road, and
that one of those Commissioners died before the
report was made. Why was there not further
action upon the matter thon' Why was it per