Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-03-21

Letter from Coll John n. blair, Resident
Engineer--Tho Difficulties that Beset
the Management OF the Road during the
Past Two Years. -
TO The Editor Of ne belmont Chrohtcie. H
SrR-In your paper of the 9TH inst. you
call my attention to the "wretchcd con-
dition of that part of the National Road
In Belmont County"
Twas in st. Clairsville on the day Of
its publication and would have been
pleased to have heard your suggestions
on the subject. agree with you in that
part of your article in which you indicate
that the receipts from that part of the
road running through your County is n
large proportion Of the aggregate upon
its entire length, but will not admit
that those receipts were more than suf-
ficient. during the year you speak Iof, to
keep that part in more than ordinary
repair, owing to the extraordinary fresh
cts of last fall.
The receipts on the 2S1 miles under
consideration during the year were five
thousand three hundred and seven dol-
lars and ninety-one cents (5,307 91). OF
this amount over 1880 was expended on
miles t,Do and three, leaving a balance
of about SO 1900 for the remaining 26I
miles, or about $143 per mile.
While 1 have kept no account for the
expenditures in Belmont apart from any
other County, will state that two teams
belonging to the State and from to 10
hands were employed for about months,
in addition to the contracts given to the
citizens of the County-the cost of which
could not have been less than the amount
received. However, while this is true
as to 1855, must admit that in previous
years the case was different, and that you
had contributed more than was actually
expended. And having these facts i'm
view, j have ON all occasions, given it
such attention as to be complimented,
not only by yourself but by the people
of Belmont generally. l.5 -..l
The law places the road in charge of
the Resident Engineer, it also makes the
road sustain itself, which gives him about
ttOe7,ty thousand dollars to Keep III miles
in repair, being about $117 to the mile.
This sum has not only to keep the road
bed in repair, but also IL covered bridges,
20 stone arched bridges, and 100 culverts.
In awet season like the present the sum
is not sufficient to repair as promptly as
would be desirable.
| Your criticism of the management OF
! that part of the road through Belmont
could not have come at more inappor-
tune season than at time when the
weather is so unfavorable to the progress
of this kind of work, and so little money
| in the Treasury, forat no other time since
/ have had charge of the road could an
impression so unfavorable to its manage
ment have been made.
l am inclined to think you have not
| tried the National Road yourself, but
have taken the views of inexperienced
or prejudiced men on its condition, as
was in Balmont nearly all last week for
| the very purpose of examining any de-
| fects that might exist, but failed to dis.
cover any place that could not be passed
safely. 1t is true that number of places
had broken through, but no amount oI
metal would prevent this where the
ground was so wet. AT Bridgeport q
heavy slide occurred and sufficient force
was sent to repair it. t-
During the year of 1865, the teams
wagons and mules, belonging to the Gov.
eminent of the United States, passed
over the entire road free of charge, the
income from which, had toll been col.
lected, would have amounted to fifteen
! thousand dollars. This necessarily wore
heIrOad bed thin and filled up the bitches
This was extraordinary and additional
to the ordinary travel, and it will take
some time to put it in as good condition
as it was prior to that year; however,
am of the opinion that with some altera
ton in the law, charging toll for inter
mediate travel, the receipts will be suf
ficient to keep the road in repair with
out increasing the rate of toll.
The most uncandid and fault-findine
will, think, admit that the common
roads are worse at present than they have
| been for several wears: this fact drives
all that can reach the National Road, tC
use that thoroughfare at a season wher
it is least able to bearit, and the tolls thai
are received in consequence are mo-
enough to offset the additional burden
at so unreasonable time.
Acknowledging the courteous manner
in which you have referred to the Officers
of the road,
am, very respectfully,
.H. Your ob't servt,
JNo. A. BLAIR,