Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-05-12
EDINBURG, Nay 9Th, 1880.


To the Hon. Judge Of the County Court
Of Shenandoah County. SIR
1 beg leave
TO report that imme diately after my APP
pointment by your honor at y1ur De-
cember term as superintendent of the
new mountain road from Mr.. Evans
to Powell's Fort, 1 commenced wolk a:
the base Of the mountain on both sides,
on the east side | reached the top oil
the mountain at grade not exceeding
five degrees. and it is so far completed
that it is now used by the travelling pub
lie. On the west side OF the mountain
there is near about ore mile completed
at grade not exceeding four degrees.
Gu this side we encountered solid slate
rock, through which We had to do some
heavy cutting, which IN many places
was not anticipated and hence not
taken into the calculation in our first
estimate Of the cost Of the road. Be
sides the Leavy cutting, we have put IN
on the whole line OF road made, seven
stone culyerts, and one bridge OF stone
and timber. For the work done we
have expended three hundred and nine
ty-eight dollars and thirty seven cents,
($S9S.37.) together with three hundred
and nineteen days of volunteer labor,
of which two hundred and seventeen
DAYS was done on the east side OF the
mountain and one hundred aud two
DAYS on the west side. The time l was
occupied on the road was seventy-sey-
On days and half. G74) There re-
mains TO be made a little over one
mile, from near the White Sulphur
Springs TO the top of the mountain and
| estimate the cost to be about four hum
dred dollars, and respectfully ask for an
appropriation Of the amount. Should
this sum be more than required the re-
malnder could be covered into the
treasury.
And here may be permitted to saJ,
that am persuaded that a liberal ap-
rropriation 10 this road will more than
comrensate the county in few years
in the shape OF taxes for ii must be
observed, that this road enters into one
Of the best IRON sections in the county.
You can stand at tie end OF this road
where Il lntersects with the creek road
at JopYi Church, and within the rad
les Of mile, or q mile aud halt, find
the best quality Of iron ore, and every
other material necessary for building
and operating a furnace N super abuu'
dance. And this too, within six miles
Of a railroad depot, on a road, when
the question viii be, not, what Will The
hor,. s pull, bu: what will the wagon
bear At this point the water power
would be ample, and could be utilized
at comparatively small expense. If
these be facts, land think they areD
:he spirit of enterprise now manifested
throughout the county, will not per-
nit this source of wealth TO remain long
idle and endeveloped after this road is
completed. But whether these be
facts or not, l submit, whether a peo'
ple who have manifested such devotion
to the public interest, by volunteering
their time and labor 10 the number OF
DAYS above referred 10, do not deserve
sub tanual recognition by the county,
at least with the aid in money necessary
to complete the road.
herewith submit statement Of MY
roceipts and expenditures and respect
fully ask Your honor to appoint the
treasurer Mr.. Geo. W. Koontz, or any
other competent person to examine my
vouchers aad report to the court.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. RYE, Supt.