The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-12
Public Roads.

At the last meeting Of that very useful
society, the Henrico Tor Tuckahoe) Agricul.
tural Club, the following resolution, pro-
posed hy Professor PURYEAR, was unani-
mous,y adopted:
"Resolued, That this club cordially en-
1orSes the movement lately made through the
County Court Of uenrco looking to the
letting out of our miserable county roads
fnow rsproach TO our enlightened commu-
ni:y) to contract for repairing them and
Keeping them in order"
The manifestation of sentiment and prac.
teal good sense on the occasion was credit
able to the club, and showed its members to
be far in advance OF the people OF Virginia
If we take the condition Of the public roads
in the State as the exponent of public senti.
meut on the subject.
Looking at the Virginia roads now, and
recurring to their condition in the past, we
cannot lay any claim to the respect Of the
world on that account. In contrasting
barbarism with civilization we find that it
is in the condition of the country that this
contrast is in great degree found. In its
tllsge, its order, its improvements and orna.
menta.ion, and more important still, in its
roads and means Of communication, this
contras, Is most marked. Civilization en-
co,irsces commerce and social intercourse,
and for this facilitated ways are ne.
cessary. But it has ever been the
fact that Virginia, however refined
happy, and intelligent her people, has al.
w9ys been scandaIized by her miserable
roads. How often have we not seen the very
worst Of roads bordering upon plantations
,rght with signs of thrift and refinement?
Thu wpvfarer behods the abode Of happiness
whilst he struggles through the quagmire
al over the deep gullies which have been
nzsmitted &c wear their ways across the puo'
JIG roed. We are ready to admit that the
s,>ttm of slavery had its effect p soothing
m sense OF public responsibility in the Sc
rrr'v OF domestic peace, but we say earn
c,rlv tAat there has been ever display OF
i3o.ir,rcsce 20 the public highways that was
ex.rtne ard beyond our ability to account
f..
The rrop's ought to allow this great pub
lr n'gisct 10 continue no longer. Every
,nan ought 20 do somethingto help to wipe
pat his scdydal. In the name OF common
sense. wis. are the people thinking about,
that ;hrv Should not see that every one Of
them &c 'n,srested in having his way to mar
let 'ac'i'a'"8. and bis ways Of visiting his
f-ioDGc m.tc easy, 50 that he may carry on
husinsss with economy and sociability with
yla"su:t? With good roads, trips are made
reasonably quick loads are heavier, and We
hiclcs and 'cams are saved from damage:
whilr With bad roads. at times there is an
absolute esnbargo laid upon visiting and
TRANSPORTATION. and always both are done
with G>crmt +; und often disaster.
Tte.e is one point of the highest import
arco 70 IL. al. and that is The effect OF good
roads u2on he views Of the stranger. Pco-
no uno sc that they can't get from home
under civ; conditions in winter IN Virginia
sra not coming to this State at all; whereas
We believe that if we had really good roads
il The State it would inspire desire to come
here, snd q new life and thrift would appear
in all sections. Good roads arc one Of the
first necessities in a civilized land, and no
community that struggles along under the
s:aytlsl OF bad ones can lay the highest claim
to TIE hnrcrs of civilization.
Ru, our TIenrico friends have a peculiar
cess. They are within the sound Of the
bills Of a city of seventy thousand inhabi-
tauss. At times it is almost impossible for
e. en- to reach that city by wheeled vehicles.
Carts and wagons arc often stalled within
The city boundary in the deep mud in the
streets.
Upon the question Of improving the high
ways leading 10 the city Of course there VIII
be differences OF opinion in town and coun-
try; but we are sure that if proper consld-
Grafton was given to the subject, the Just way
for their Improvement would be determined
on. Certainly the city is interested in
facilitating the ways TO come into
It's boundaries; so also are her people inter-
ested iu having easy aud beautiful drives into
the country. Take, for instance, the Grove
road; that is a fashi onable drive. The coun-
try people have expended Il great deal OF
money upon it, and have had very little as
sistance from the city. The country people are
beginning to regard this as rathcsa one'sided
business. The road is from neglect growing
bad, and fashionable teams arc compelled to
travel in q more humble pace. This, Of
course, is drawback upon public conve.
nierce and fashionable pleasures.
This is text from which long lecture
may be delivered to the public. Let them
consider it for themselves. We tell the peo-
pie that there is more Of public good
wrapped up in this question Of public roads
than in any other subject we can think OF.
. and the people are permitting the progress
of constant and most serious injury to them
selves by neglecting it.
The Bedford Ssut,0et is mistaken If it sup