The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-02-21
County Roads.

County Roads,
One of our most thoughtful and in
telligent Supervisors called our attention
to the road law as introduced in the
Legislature by Mr.. VanLear, and to
the injustice of its operation, should it
become a law, upon Beverly Manor. All
the main roads lead into Staunton, where the
produce OF the county is generally eX-
changed, and by reason of this it would re-
quire much larger amount to keep them
in repair than the roads in other districts,
although the citizens Of those districts would
be equally the bcneficiaries with the citizens
Of Beverly Manor. He thought great injus-
tice would be imposed upon Beverly Man
or to require that district to keep in good
repair the roads passing through it, which
would be as much used by the citizens of
other districts as its own, while the roads
in some of the districts would not be used
at all scarcely except by the citizens OF those
districts. The result would be that an un-
just proportion OF the tax necessary to keep
the roads in repair would have to be levied
upon the property Of the citizens Of Beverly
Manor, to the end that the inhabitants of
other districts might have easy access to
market. There is much force in these objec-
tions, and we have no doubt the bill will be
modified to meet them, and this could only
be done by some system Of raising general
fund for the repair and improvement OF the
roads generally throughout the county. a.
The fifth paragraph also met with opposi-
ton from the gentleman who called on us,
in that tine present sub districts, which Mr..
VanLears bill provides shall remain as they
are, wero laid out for county and noGa dis
trict system, and hence are not adapted to
the purposes of the bill. The sub-districss
are limited to neighborhood areas. for the
convenience Of working, and are not adapt
cd to the system OF Offering suggested in
the law proposed.
The gentleman informed us that the pro-
posed law was before the Board of Supervi-
sors on Friday last, and met with objections
because OF its want Of adaptability to the
necessities of the county. We have no doubt
such further consideration and examination
of the bill will be made, as will formulate
these objections, so that its patron may
know wherein TO make notifications.
There is one thing csrtain-a general sys-
TEN of county road improvement is needed
very much. No better argument could be
urged in support of this than to point to the
impossible condition of the public highways
at this time. 1t is next to impossible for a
wagon ordinarily loaded to reach Staunton
over any other than the metal roads, only
two of which lead into the city. Every
leading road in the county ought to be met
allied, and that with the least possible delay.
1t would be economy in the farmer to pro-
vide for it, because he could utilize his 9TH
erwise idle time in carrying to market his
surplus produce, as well as in the enhance
ment in the value of his lands. A complete
and thoroughly operated system of public
would re the best and most remnnerativc in
vestment the people could possibly make.
1t is necessity, and should not be longer
overlooked than the system can be matured
and put into operation.
If we had a good graveled road to Stribling
Springs, and thence to the county line over
Hankey mountain, Staunton could draw all
the trade of Highland and Pendleton which
now goes to Harrisonburg. AS it is, at this
season OF the year, the roads cannot be trav-
eled with loaded wagons, and as the Warm
Springs Turnpike furnishes passable out,
let, that much barter finds market in Har-
risonburg instead Of Staunton. The people
of the city are as much interested in agood
county road system as the people of the
county, but as the city subscribed hundred
thousand dollars to secure the construction
Of the Valley Railroad, which benefits the
county as much as the city, the county ought
to reciprocate by putting all the leading
roads in good repair, so as to be passable at
all seasons Of the year, which would add not
only to the market facilities, but to the in
trinsic value OF the real estate of the
county.
We hope the members Of the Board of STU
pervisors, all Of whom have giveE good
deal of thought to this subject, and who
have the intelligence to suggest an efficient
plan, will formulate their views into bill,
or make such notifications of Mr.. VanLear's
bill as will meet the wants of the county.
and communicate it to our county represen-
tatives. We are sure Mr.. VanLear is not
welded to the suggestions of the bill he pro-
posed. 1t was doubtless offered to invite
suggestions, and we certainly published it for
that purpose. We hope it will, therefore,
be the pleasure of the Supervisors to avail
themselves of the occasion to prepare bill
or such notifications as will be acceptable
to themselves and the people of the county.
1t is reflection upon the en- terprise of the
county that our public roads are in the con-
dition we now find them, and the quicker
remedy is applied the better it will be for all
concerned.
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