Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-10-22

| fed to perceive from the report Of the proceed
| ines of the Common Council of Staunton, which
we publish elsewhere, that that body has adop-
| ted the initiative measures having for their OBJ
| ject the gradual extension of system of Mead
amized roads from Staunton to all parts of the
county.
The plan, as we unders tand it, u.s. for the city
of Staunton to McAdamize the Churchville,
Middlebrook and Waynesborough roads. from
the central parts of the city to the corporation
limits, or, in other words as far as their powers
will permit them, and then for the county au-
thorities, gradually, to continue the process of
Matchmaking these roads, say two or three
miles each year, SO as not to be burthensome to
the people, until they are extended to remote
parts of The county. This can readily be done
in five six years, without onerous taxation,
and then the people will have ready access to
the town, with the products of their FARMS at all
seasons of the year.
1t must not be understood that it is proposed
10 confne this system of improvement to the
roads named. There are several others Of equal
importance, such as the Spring hill road, the
Barterbrook road, and the Mt. Meridian road
But these roads branch off from the Valley
Turnpike, the Greenville road, and the Waynes-
boro road, beyond the city limits, and, there
fore, the city authorities have no control over
them. And so, in regard to the Valley turn
pike, the Greenville turnpike, and the Parkers-
burg road These are all important thorough
fares, but as they are in the hands Of corporate
companies the city authorities of Staunton, or of
the county, can do nothing with them.
We hope. however, that the Springhill, Bar
Textbook, and New Hope roads, will, in due sea-
son, be properly improved by the county au-
thorities.
While we have always regarded Railroads as
of immense value to- our county, we doubt
whether judicious system of McAdam roads,
radiating from the town-like the spokes of a
wheel from the hub-will not be quite as benef-
cial to the masses of the people. The benefits
are certainly more diffusive, and will be enjoyed
by greater number of persons.
We hope that this movement, inaugurated by
the corporate authorities of Staunton, will be
me by the authorities of the county in spirit
of enlightened liberality. No one who has OBJ
served the effects of the Valley turnpike on lands
lying on or near it, can doubt that good Mead
amized roads will add from SIS to $40 per acre
to the value of all lands lying within mile or
two Of them.
If the Middlebrook road were McAdamized
to the County line it would not only be OF great
i'm portance to the people of the S. w. portion
of the county, but it would draw to Staunton
large share of the trade of the Northern portion
of Rockbridge.
It is almost impossible to estimate the Ivan
tages of good McAdam road. In the latter
part Of the winter and spring-the very season
when farmers wish to send their corn, flour, hay,
straw, potatoes and wood to market-the roads
are almost impossible, not only for loaded wag-
ons, but for lighter vehicles. Firm, paved roads
will enable farmers to come to town at all times
and to haul full loads of the products of their
farms. Teams, which would otherwise be idle,
can thus be rendered profitable; and people can
bring to market many articles which now perish
for want of means of transportation.
The cost of the proposed improvements would
not be at all onerous to the people. We believe
that the saving in blacksmiths bills, and the
wear and tear of vehicles, to say nothing OF the
saving of time and cost of Transporting commod-
tiles to market, would more than balance the in
crease of taxation that most farmers would have
to pay Farmers living ten miles from town,
cannot now afford to haul wood to market But
if the proposed roads were made, each farmer,
by hauling two or three loads of wood to town,
at leisure seasons, could readily pay mis- share of
the cost.
1t is not proposed to make all these improve
ments at once. That would be too burthensome
The plan is to commence where the authorities
of Staunton leave off, and to extend the Mead
amizing process on each road abouttwo or three
miles each year. As the average distance on
these roads from Staunton to the county line is
about Is miles, if three miles were constructed
each year, on each road the remoter parts OF
the county would be reached in five years. And
in the mean time distant farmers would be en-
Toying the benefits of the Improvements. At the
end of the first year. in coming to town, with
their families, or merchandise, they would have
three miles of good road to travel on. At the
end of the second year six miles, at the end of
the third nine miles. and so on until the roads
are extended to the county line.
Farmers cannot fail to comprehend and ap-
preciate the importance of this improved condi-
ton of things, and we confidently believe that
the Supervisors could do no act, which would
meet with more general approval. OF course
there would be grumblers at first, but the prac-
tical illustration of the benefits of the expendl-
ture, which would be presented before their
eyes in so unmistakable a manner, would soon
silence all croakers.
The cost would be mere trihe, when COM
pared with the benefits, and farmers, through or
near whose lands the roads passed, would find
profitable employment in furnishing the stone
for the road The profits would be two-fold-
first, in selling the stone, which is now nul-
sance on their farms; and second, in having their
lands cleared of the stone, which is now from
year to year wearing out the shoes of their hor-
ses, and bunting or breaking their plows, drills
reapers and other farming implements. And
when these roads are once completed they will
be permanent, and the cost of keeping them IN
repair would be triaing compared with the tax
in money and labor now required to keep the
comm On roads in passable order.
A tax of ten cents on the $780, for five years.
would complete these roads to the county line.
Can any one be so blind as not TO see that the
expenditure would be wise and paying invest
ment, or so narrow-m minded as not to appreciate
its benefits?
Tie corporate authorities of Staunton propose
to put this ball in motion will not the people of
the county keep it moving?
LIST OF PATENTs.-The following patents were
issued from the U. S. Patent Office to citizens of
V;rr;,io for tho walk ending October LIST. 1872