Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-11-17
For the Spectator.
Good Roads.

For the Spectator.
Good Roads.
The people of Augusta are live people,
They are sagacious people, In most things
they understand their interests and they lack
neither the liberality nor public spirit to pur-
sue them with intelligent energy But upon
one point, it must be admitted, they have not
shown their usual good sense. They have not
given sufficient attention to the leading
thoroughfares extending from Staunton to re-
mote parts of the county.
Good roads add greatly to the value of the
real estate adjacent to-, or near them. If any
one doubts this, he has only to look to the lands
along, and near to the Valley turnpike These
lands are worth from $50 to 800 per acre,
while lands quite as good, remote from good
roads, will not bring half those prices With
good roads, farmers can haul twice as much to
and from market as they can over bad ones,
and with much less injury to their horses, gear,
and wagons. They can make their trips in
much shorter times, and they can haul over a
McAdam road when they can not over COM
mon road. In this way farmers can employ
their teams and wagons on good roads when
they would otherwise be idle.
With solid paved roads, farmers can get to
Church regularly, and their families can visit
among their friends, and 60 to town, when 9TH
erwise they would be kept at home by the i'm
passabie condition of the roads It is hazard
ing little to gay that good McAdam road lead
ing from Staunton to any part Of the county
will add from $40 to 500 per acre to the value
Of all lands bordering on, or near to it. This
enhancement will be greatly more than suffii-
Gent to pay the cost of the road.
Good roads promote intercourse and trade of
all kinds Give US good roads from remote
IF +bo couptvy a,d vuiil COOS. coo
an impetus it will give to the prosperity of the
town. It brings the people nearer, in time, to
town and enables them to do, In one day, and
in one trip, what now requires two.
Let our people ponder this matter, and take
steps to remedy the evils under which they
now labour
Rome was not built in day." neither can
all the roads we want, be made at once But
let US make beginning. Let US turn the mat
ter over in our minds, and see what can be
DONE and how, and when, it can be done.
Our present road system is very bad one.
Roads which ought to be laid out for the pub
lie benefit, are made subordinate to the inter-
ests and often to the whims of individuals.
A man takes it into his head that he wants
the road on his line, or changed so as to throw
one Of his fields On the side next to his house,
and forthwith he gets up petition-has it re-
ferred to his friend, the road commissioners,
who knows little and cares less about the pub
lie convenience. The petitioner and commits
sioner ride over and view the proposed change,
return to the petitioners house todinner- take
a drink-talk it over at the dinner table, and /,
in due time, the report comes in, and is con-
frmed, and in few weeks the neighbors find
the old road fenced up, and themselves turned
round Robin Hoods barn!
This is all wrong. Nobody has any security
hon q ict 70 yxrbo !
People can't buy farm with any assurance
that the old highway, which may have been an
inducement to them to buy, may remain where
it is.
Roads should be permanent things They
should be located on the best and shortest
routes, and when made no changes should be
allowed except on three months notice to the
public, so that everybody could be heard. and
the subject fully canvassed and understood.
Competent cngineers-men skilled in their
profession-should be employed to locate the
great thoreughfares, and then they should be
permanently located and permanently con-
structed.
We now have the Greenville, the Middle
brook the Parkersburg, the Jennings Gap the
Springhill and the Valley Turnpike. well To-
Gated: The Greenvile, the Parkersburg and
the Valley are turnpikes and beyond the con-
trol of the county The Waynesborough road
is badly located, in many respects, but still it
may do. But all the other main roads are
abominably laid out. Take for example the
road to Mount Meridian and to Sherando.-
| They are both steep and circuitous. And so it
is with many other roads of great Importance.
| The first step towards improvement is for the
County Court to determine what roads need
material changes, and then to select competent
engineers to locate them. Mr.. Pratt the engi-
| 1ai1 off IIoL oyr ho
has taken up his abode in Augusta, is skill
full practical engineer. So are Major Hotch-
kiss and Mr.. K. NJ. Taylor Why cannot these
gentlemen be selected by the Court to make a
| a general reconnaissance of the County, with a
view to advise the Court what changes of roads
are necessary for the public interests? When
their report comes in, the Court can decide in.
/ telligently what to do.
| When a system has been agreed on, let the
town and county unite in carrying 1t into effect.
The town can McAdamize each road mile out
of town. and there the county authorities car
take it up, and extend the melting two OF
roads to every neighborhood When people
look at the matter in proper light, they will
enter, with spirit, into 1t. They will not only
claim no damages, but aid in the constructions
Who will be willing to continue plunging, win
ter after winter and spring after spring, along
our bottomless mud-roads, when he sees a
reasonable prospect of having solid McAdaul
road on which he can drive or 8 miles an
hour at all seasons, and haul "a barrels of -four
instead of 5!
It is to be hoped our people will take this
subject into serious consideration. The object
of this article is to invite inquiry-to stimulate
the practical business men of our county to lay
hold of the subject. Some may say our sug
gestions are crude Granted Now let other
men more competent to deal with the subject
come forward, and give us wiser and more ma
turely considered plans. We want action
wise Interchangeable action. We are tired o.