The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-05-12
OUR COUNTY ROADS.
What Is Orr Proper Policy IN the
WayGt Expenditures.
RAI,nyn NJ the InteIlIos+epY.

Way u Expenditures.
Editors Of the IntelliGeEeer:
Allow 4 lew words-nos by way OF re-
ply or coGIove5y-but 10 further draw
out "Our Old Employe," who has houored
the road 6lL1ine@ b. an article on the sub
iect l have read his articles Tor some
time back and think they contain more
Information 10 regard 10 the city oil Wheel.
ing and her connections than anything
that has ever appeared in print
l might be expected 10 differ with him
In this road business, bu! any one exhibi-
ting as much public spirit and courtesy in
his criticisms can but place me under OBJ
legations 10 him for anything he might
say. Our differences arise from our diff
tefent standpOinLs, and our sources Of in
formation. some people, 60 reference 10
"Our Old EmplOye," look upon the city as
having one set; Of interests, the county an.
other, and that the county people are ak.
Ing too much.
shall look ct It from q country stand
point before l close, but the interests oil the
whole county ara one. Railroads and
good streets build up the city, and 90 help
the country, provided We have good
ROADS TO GET TO TIE CITY.
The "nCeded improvements" seem to
come all at once, not because they were
not needed before, but because we have
Just opened our eyes to look around.
Outsiders have discovered this before, but
we have been too busily engaged. Wheel.
Ing is Il working city and the people have
been TOO much absorbed in their work 10
give this subject the attention that It's
importance deserves. But there Il a
class Of younger men coming on, whose
Views have not been cramped by their
necessities, and 10 whom the possibility Of
making Wheeling 8 city oil 100000 in.
habitants within the next twenty years Is
something worth looking alter. These
men will be more willing TO lay down
their dollars in the way Of taxes for the
sake Of securing such system Of roads
as will make the city continually grow
into the country, Tor good roads, like
good streets, become an essential element
In the spread OF every community.
The discussion Of the subject in the
newspapers Is Q move in the right dIrec.
ton. We need more light than we have
had. In this way the best plans will be
drawn out 1have great iaith in the city
OF Wheeling and her future. All she
needs Is 10 let her brains and nerve have
q chance 10 work out this future for her
within reasonable time.
THB ACTION OF THE BOARD OF coMXIs.
By q resolution Of the Board An esti-
mate for the coming year was ordered.
While this resolution named certain roads
yet II also referred to "other important
roads" This language indicated that
business flashes seem TO have passed
through the minds Of the members dur
Ing the past year on this subject. Why
was this not thought oil beiorei The
law required II, but It was the duty oil
the Road Surveyor 70 do It What else
could the committee do, as honest men
lAborlng Tor the entire county, than bring
In the report they did-to deal with the
roads In any kind oil a business way,
The amount was much larger than
was anticipated BY the members Of The
Board, but not larger than expected. ID
had been gathering facts and figures for a
year past Tor something Of this kind. The
Finance Committee thought the county
could not make such an expenditure al
present, and thus tho matter rests.
1have been noticing This road bnsIness
for many years and have at times refused
to make report Of routes when l thought
the expenditure improper, but have never
had any voice In the matter until this
year. Being Q new hand l thought that
my colleagues from the city should have
the say. They have done the best noss
slble, leaving details 10 the country mem
bers for past results. Where q Board
changes more or less every year there
can DO no full and accurate information Hs
TO what has been done and what Il needed
to be done In the way Of expenditures. Ap.
preparations, therefore, must DO a matter Of
more or less guess work or personal favor,
Whenever o new route Is spoken Of every
man interested has his own route, and Il
the location selected does not please him
he comes before the Board 10 influence
ita action and often succeeds In doing 90,
Within the past year I have been on every
road In the county and made myself
pretty familiar with our necessities IN the
way OF improvements. Therefore ! feel
that ! sm comparatively we'll qualified to
speak 10 reference 10 the appropriation
asked for nom the Board Of Commission.
ers, ~ the ,judicious expenditure Of
1000 everybody In the county could
begin TO travel toward the cIty. Tar the
reason that no pieces Of road were nTo.
posed that did not make immediate coH.
nection with the city. In other wSrds
the expenditure would bring the city into
closer relation and easier intercourse and |
Of courSe, more profitable nelghborhoo3
70 the city. ]. D. WHrTHAM,