Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-07-15
The Turnpike Meeting.

We understand lNat tue meeting was HiCsl-
ded over by LOGAN OsBURN, Esq, and that
addresses were made by the presiding officer,
and by d. D. Lucas, WM. II. TaAyERs and
ANDREW HUNTER, Esq's The newspapers Of
the town having been requested to publish the
remarks made on the occasion We append the
following from Mr. Lucas, aud indulge the
hone that the Importance Of the subject as pre-
seuted may be duly appreciated and result in
prompt action:
Alta meeting held in the Carter House, ON
Saturday evening the 10th inst, in reference
20 the Nabletown, Bloomery and Charlestowu
Turnpike, Messys. Hunter, Travers aud myself
were requested to furnish the papers Of the
town a synopsis of the remarks respectively
submitted by as on that occasion. read a
paper Co tLe meeting. which / herewith fur
u;sh, which embodies the substance of my
views as 10 the necessities, and the true polio v
Of the county as 20 her roads. may hcreat-
ter sustain the views here embodied in a more
elaborate communication hut for the present
submit them 20 the careful consideration Of
those interested:
jefferson already has about forty-fve miles
Of macadamized turnpike. We need but
twenty-five miles more to complete network
Of good roads. which will relieve the county
10 q great extent, of road tax, aud leave scarce
. lv farm West Of the Shenandoah more than
twomi.es from a macadam.zci road The lines
now 70 be completed are from Shepheristowu
90 Halltlwu. eight miles from Kabletown 10
a point on the Harpcrs Ferry aud Smithlield
pike. say at or near Wm. Schaefers six mules +;
I a branch from this road when completed from
Bngmerv Mills o. Chdrlestown three miles a
road from Charlestown 20 iuterScct the Shel-
herdstown and Smthfsld pike at oruear kear-
nevsville. six miles In all, as above estimated,
about twenty-five miles. The distance from
Clarl,s.owu to Shepberdstowu by the
present dirt road by Flowing Spring Is elreR
miles. bv making the road from Halltown 20
SIcphcrlstoVu. the distance from Charcs'pwn
IN Sbcphcr,lstowu. via lla.town viii be- over
Ia mechanical road, tireire miles, Of which
flra-e already completed. The distance from
'Uarrers Ferry 60 Sbepherlstown, 10y the ordi-
nary dirt road now Travelled, Is ton miles: by
constructing tho proposed road from Ha.itown
tie distance from Irpers Ferry 90 Shepherds
town via IIl'uwu, over a macadamized road,
,..iI be fre're miles ONLY. Of which four are
already made. It is apparent therefore, that
tie road from Ila'lt0wu to Shepherdst0wn Is
main artery in the travel Of the county,
when finished, will complete connection be-
p tween >Aephcrdst0wu and The two other pria-
chile towns iu the county, by macadaGH1eJ
routes. hut little longer tuau tue dirt roads now
+ travelled which, for practicable purposes, are
for several months il tAe year, we'll nigh lm-
passab.e
Tie road from Eaj,ctown te Schaclcl's and
l, branch from Is'er's TO Clar.cst0wu, wla
connect the former village with all the lmIor-
, TINT towns, aud markets Iu the county Jy goo,
d mechanical roads; while the road from
Char'e,towu TO kcaruoysyiile will give th,
, rich country intervening between Lcetowu and
. iCaarIg-tlwa. auI kculcysyiiie and Charles
town au uc.'-r -I market over good road
F.. pg0..iTs Depot vii, De Ia striking distance oil
t,,o tnruriae,. and the farms west OF the She
.ulrl.sa ur.lest from a pike Will be within
tuo miles oi two maCadamized roads.
TIE cost of building the roads proposed at
tle rare of $500 per mile, wall be 100000.
Estimating the enhancement In the value OF
% i.l .fiag 0u these proposed roads, aud rum
F .irg back enc mile from them on either side
s- f-. dollars per acre. and tle enhancement
u Tie value ul lands living within ti-0 miles oil
these roads. at tres dollars per acre, and W,
lave a- tie ,sta. enhancement DO the value 0t
- rle f5ws In the county, lying near these roads
500 $50. oy more Hr, foU-toid tis cost q
leUHay De- roads, This estimate of enhanced
..lueiS cviIcutly below the mark. The land
sales IN ibis county and Clarke, during Che last
r two wears. would indicate that lands lying
uu5u turnpike are enhanced IN value nearer
tsu Sham f~s dollars per acre. 10y such a cou-
.igu.tv. gam not aware of any sale of a
arm uTof turnpike IN either county ioI
more than 100 per acre; whereas tlc farm
ief Dir. peudlctou. on the CIdr'e,town and
Berryv.lIe pike. sold for SIS, aud that OF H.
W. English. deceased. lying ou the li1rpcrs
Ferry and SmitLGe'd pike, brought $40 PER
p acre. The farm of Mr. Rouss brought SlO0
ncr acre. iu anticipation only of the COM
r'c.ioa Of the proposed kablctown pike.
am informed U.s. the active agent OF the yHf-
chaser that the Inducing cause Of TIE purchase
5tthat price. was the confident eXpectationtha
Ills proposed road woul be made. ] am in
D. formed also. by member Of the new firm for
the manufacture of paper at the Hailtowu
Mills. that one II the strongest and inducing
causes which operated in the selection % Halle
town rr the location Of this valuable estab-
..sbmeut. was the fact that these turnp.hos
. ug.,I bccEmpICted
Tie yearly road tax Of the county is about
Sc 500 70 will be seen, therefore that the
road ty alone Or the next eight years would
Iau0.ut % a sum sufficient 20 make all these
roads. Once completed and the road tax VIII
be- entirely insignificant as every farm viii he
convenient TO one Of these main thoroushiarcs.
Assuming the value of the Tell estate In the