Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-08-19
NEW LETTER ON AN OLD SUBJ ECT

| Mr.. EprToR-Q believe that is the way
people generally commence all letters OF res
pectabilIty TO newspapers-n1any OF which
Inc people, who ought to read them, don't do
it) Well, whether this be read or not, it is Of
little consequence 10 me but I'll begin again
and say
| Mr.. Editor A fellow calling himself
"BERKELEY," is making great fuss in your
paper about Roads and Poor Houses, and as
| consider myself an independent and free cit
izen of old Berkeley, as well as he, want to
make fuss too, if the people will make fuss
with me. If they don't, they can let il alone.
Now sir, it was proposed sometime ago TO
make a turnpike from Winchester to the river
at Wlllamsport, and the whole project fell
through for the want of $4 900, which could
easily have been obtained if we had liked
This may show to every sensible man that we,
the citizens Of Berkeley, are tee totally oppo-
sed to any improvement in our County, we
care not what it is. And fearing that this
grand scheme Of an .Aristocratic Clique may
soon come before the people, beg leave TO lay
my objections before the whole community.
! And first, sir, allow Inc 10 state that Mar
tinsburg is an old town, celebrated for its an
tlqulty, of which it bears the sensible marks and
representations in old buildings colored with
the assaults Of the elements since the years OF
our fathers. And it would be murder, to have
any Improvements which would take from
them the garb Of antiquity.
And second, our roads are all natural roads
real roads of our common mother, Nature
and that is more perhaps than can be said OF
any roads ip any fourishing County in the
State Of Virginia or any other State.
Why, sir, our roads for mud and holes du
ring one part oil the year. and for rocks and
jolting during the remainder, take upon me,
sir, to assert, surpass anything in our neigh
boring Counties that talk so big.
| Now, sir, can we improve Nature? Why
the man is fool, and belongs to the County
Court, or to the Clique, who says we can
wish them to knew that we keep our roads
| Just as they are, and they ale getting betterer
and beiterer, for the purpose Of curing dyspep-
sy. Butte our objections:
First, object TO a turnpike between Win
cheste. and Williamsport, because then there
would be a wellm turnpike all the way
from Stanton to Philadelphia, in this Repub-
lican Country, and that, too, Through Martins
burg! Why, sir, the idea is horrble!!
Second, object, because it this turnpike
were made, we would have daily four-horse
stage between Hagerstown and Marunsburg-
from Hagerstown IN time for The down train
of cars; to leave Marlinsburg after the up
train would come in.
Third, object on the common principles Of
mutual love, because all the passengers that
go to Hancock, for the cars, would then meet
them in Martinsburg; as also many that 60
from Hagerstown to Frederick and this
would iniure both Hancock and Frederick to
our advantage
| Fourth, | object because many Virginia
merchants who 60 to the cities North, by Bal
tmore, would then pass through our town to
Hagerstown, where they could take the ca RS
at 4 O'Clock in the morning and be in Phila-
they wish, they could transact business in Ha
gerstown, Chambersburg, Carlisle, Harris
burg and Lancaster on the way.
Fifth, object because many Northern and
Eastern merchants would visit the South by
this route; and many gentlemen, too, from the
North and East, would travel through the
whole Of the Cumberland Valley, and contln-
ne South through the more beautiful valley
Of Virginia, In preference TO any other route.
Sixth, object because much droving also,
and wagoning, would then pass through MAI
tinsburg that il never now sees.
Seventh, opjecl because this wnoic sehehie
would bring TO our town not only much tray
Ell, but much money, and would give every
thing new life and new vigor, and would take
away our dullness and Anticipated appear
ance.
Eighth, object because the State woult
bear three-ffths of the expense, and because
know that Hagerstown and WILLIAMSON
would be greedy for investment.
Ninth, / object because Bank would then
soon be established, and we would become a
fourishing and business County like some Of
our aourishipg neighbors.