The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-02-20
County Roads.

We know of no better season of the year
to call the attention of our people to the
economy and Importance Of improved coun-
ty roads than about the time for the frost to
be thawed out of the ground, and the mud
SO thickens and deepens as to seriously in.
terfere with the progress OF vehicles. We
have on more than one occasion availed our
selves of this propitious season to enlist an
interest in this subject, but our efforts have
not yielded the fruits we desired. We, how
ever. purpose to ''keep pegging away" in
the hope that the practical sense of our peo-
pie will realize the Importance OF Inaugural
ting thorough system Of improved county
roads.
At this season of the year work is gener-
ally slack on the farm, and if the roads arc
in bad condition, great many idle hours
have to be passed, while the expense OF ami
NAL consumption goes on the same as if &C.
tive labor were being performed. If, on the
contrary, the roads were good, every day
could be employed with profit in marketing
farm produce, and doing such other freight.
ing as forms part of the profits of the farm.
er. The main thoroughfares leading to four
of the most productive portions of the conn-
ty, are generally in the early spring in such
condition as to preclude the profitable use
ofwagons and teams, and ia the dsgree that
this is so, loss is realized to the farmer. We
allude to the Middlebrook, Mt. Scion, Green
vile and Churchville roads. There could
be vast amount of profitable trade carried
on between these sections and Staunton were
the roads in such a condition all the year as
to admit Of reasonable loads being hauled at
little strain upon the horses. On the Mid
dlebrook road, not only the products of the
county through which it passes, but OF that
part of Rockbridge adjacent, seek market
In Staunton, and with good mettled road,
the barter could and would be made four
times as great as it nowis, The Churchville
and Mt. Scion roads would draw from proli-
fic sections OF our own county as well as por-
tions Of Highland, Pendleton and Rocking
ham. The Greenville road would augment
the traffic with another portion OF Rock
bridge and at the same time supply the de-
maRds of an increased trade in our own
county. But at certain seasons when very
little can be done on the farm, these public
roads are mud lockaded, and to attempt to
travel them causes wear and tear of vehi-
cles and horse power which greatly diminish
the legitimate profits upon the articles mar
keted.
Not only would good roads stimulate pro-
duction and render useful many articles
which now 60 to waste, but they would great
ly enhance the value of lands, making them
more inviting and saleable, and attract buy
ers, who otherwise would turn away to seek
other localities more easily accessible.
This rich county Of Augusta ought to have
thorough system Of graded and graveled
roads. Nothing would add SO much to the
general prosperity and comfort of the people
as complete and effective road improvements,
and any outlay that should be required for
this purpose would be more than repaid
every season in the profits arising from the
quantity of staple products hauled and the
farm and garden stuffs that would be utili-
zed, but which are now dead loss. In
Pennsylvania and Maryland such system
is operated, and the result is shown in the
increased value of real estate, the readiness
with which sales are made, and the general
comfort and affluence OF the Inhabitants
No better or more remunerative outlay could
be made by the county than such as is here
implied. 1t would build up the county, in
crease the trade andimportance Of Staunton
and add to our many natural advantages,
an improvement that would be of incalcua-
bio hauoGt