The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-04


been excessive modesty that has kept
me from making few suggestions In
regard to our road law, through your
columns, but feeling that it would be
waste of words. If the bile, that 1
now understand are before the legisla-
ture in regard to roads and schools are
TO the interest OF the State, then ours
here are not with the interests OF the
the main portion of our State. But a
communication from your Pocshontss
correspondent, and your remarks there.
on, induces me to offer a word.
We must spend labor and money, to
have improvements OF any kind, and
as your correspondent suggests, let US
give it now. Like building our school
houses, it will 60 hard for time, but
will soon be over, and then we would
not be without them for many times
their cost.
The Intellioencer remarked in review
ing Governor Jacobs message. in which
was recommended a change in the road
law, that the trouble was, the people
did not want good roads; strange as
sertion Tut it has too much the appear
ance of truth. Not want any improves
mepts! In regard to the people espe-
cially OF this county, it might be said,
in justification OF their opposition to
road reviews, that the fear OF adding to
what they consider already onerous
taxes, keep the people indifferent IN re-
gard to roads: keep them from market
and mail almost half the year and
compel them to travel over highways
shall | call them-barely passable
during the other half, thus deprlving
them both OF the money and informa.
ton necessary to the formation OF good
roads.
A bill has been before our legislas
ture, which provides for the calling out
of labor to build and repair our roads
This may do in other portions OF the
State, hut think that taxing labor
alone, and not capital will never get US
good roads.
The people may not want good roads,
and am aware that under our present
road law we might have better roads
than we have, but there is one radical
defect which comes out in this way.
A road is laid out citizens subscribe
literally; the county is ready; but one
land owner through whose lands the
road must pass, throws himself across
the way, and all is blocked. Every
man is lord OF his own manor, you
know.
No matter how rich the community,
this lord of mis- own manor keeps them
without an outlet other than along
creek beds, over rock heights, or
through muddy defiles. instances
! could be cited where attempt after at
tempt has been made, but always
stopped in this way until application
has been made to the Legislature, and
a special charter obtained,
Why are not Improvements IN
country roads viewed in the same light
az improvements in school buildings.
The proper officers did not wait until
the people asked them to erect build
ings but if one was needed it was built.
The people could not have agreed In
asking some would have wanted 1t here;
some there. They could not have
agreed in the location:all could nothave
been suited and how many school
houses would we have had? so Of roads
Action seems to be put off until all
agree. They never will, and so We have
worry along with no roads. Yes, gen.
tlemen OF the County Board OF Com.
missioners! No roads, except such as
our fore fathers left us, used by them
"a mill paths, and COW paths, and now
called by you WagC n roads,
Writing as | do, rom the country,
YOU NAV tell ne that we do not want
roads; see how we voted on railroad
appropriations. | see and what bene-
| fit are railroads to us--wheu we have
no roads TO get to them? Are we
to take the wings Of the morning and
fly across, or with our bag-grain in
one end and stone in the other-lead
our Rosinante over to the station; and
have some scribbler to ride out from your
city, as Wa recently the case, and write
US down because we could only see tif.
teen votes in one township for railroads
| should like to give him few as |
pass. but that is not the point. And
besides, railroads are built for the hene'
fit OF corporation which pays no tax ;
roads for the benefit OF a community
which pays the tax to benefit these
same roads.
II anything in the above meets your
views, would you call the atten-
ton OF our County Commissioners to
the same, and it they desire to inform
themselves upon any statement | have
made, let them try a drive over our
Country roads, as thew are called, at this
season of the year. Having obtained a
good ria from Bob Luke. or any other
man who keeps the same, their bills
paid for the same ond wills made, (they
NAV never return) let them drive up
to the mouth OF Short Creek, thence up
to West Liberty, on to Hansytown, via
Valley Grove, the most direct route,
and down the new pike" to ,Roney's
Point, where they ran see the result Of
an economic" expenditure OF money
when a small amount more, would have
given them first class road. In driv-
ing over the National road they can
enjoy the contrast Aud if they go
through all this, only q little over
thirty miles, halt days drive, at the
favorable season OF the year, without
using profane language, they will have
accomplished more than any citizen of
i L