Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-02-07

/, The old lady ground hog OF all
came out last Monday and saw his
shadow. He got ten bushels of corn
and went back. He has promised to
ct me out again in six weeks and
make his report as to the future con-
dition of the weather.
In going to your city the other day
/ noticed that snow would not lie
on the roof of Wisner's new house.
We hope we may be able to say the
same thing about the lawyer when
he takes possession Of 1t.
Mr.. james w. Chenoweth has
leased his farm to Mr.. John Harsh.
Mr.. Harsh will move in the house
now occupied by Charles Sencen-
diver, on the corner of Main and
Short Hill street. Mr.. Sincendiver
will erect new house one mile east
of Arden.
Mr.. George s. Ramsburg will
move into our village this String,
and Mr.. Bowers, the huckster man
from Martinsburg, will take possess
sion of his farm.
Died on last Saturday. Miss Elizabeth
Lee, In the 74th year of her age, and on
Monday, Miss Deborah Susan Lee, in the
Gath year of her age.
The above were sisters, and daugh-
tiers Of the late Thomas Lee, who
was the father of seven children, all
girls. We have known the family
for many years, and no more peace
able and quiet people ever lived.
They were members of the Society
Of Friends-plain in their dress,
honest in their dealings, charity for
all and malice toward none. Their
bodies were inferred in the Friends
burying ground here, and are repos-
ing side by side while their spirits
have taken their flight to that coun--
try from whence no traveller has
ever yet returned. There are two
sisters left who have the sympathy
of the neighborhood in their sad be-
reavement.
This is the time of tho year that
everybody is complaining OF the con-
dition of our dirt roads, and there is
some talk of sending men to the
Legislature who will give us a good
road law. Our Legislature may
make law as long as from June to
January and If our County Court
fails to do its duty, 1t will not
amount to shucks. The present law
gives power to the County Court to
levy a road tax sufficient to macad.
annie the main roads; it also gives
every man the privilege of working
l n,.f Sc kax ~, fha ,.raH xxYa vxyarf
one of the Court we would vote to
levy double the amount that is now
levied for road purposes, and give
the farmers the privilege Of paying
this tax by hauling stone along the
road, and enough to pay the surveyor
and hands to put them in and brake
them. BY that way we would do a
two-fold good; first by giving them a
good road, and second by giving
them a chance to clear their fields Of
loose stone, which of itself, in these
days Of improved machinery is very
| important to every farmer, and none
but and old ground hog would grum-
BILE. But farmers are the worst peo-
pie in Gods world to educate up to
their own interest. We want a few
more magistrates like Mr.. Miller, OF
Hedgesville. When the Court made
the levy for roads, he asked twelve
cents on the hundred dollars for
Hedgesville, and said If the people
wanted good roads he was in favor
of liberal levy, and would willingly
pay his share. We should like to
see him returned for four years, and
believe the people of HedgesvilIe
could do no better If our farmers
would take the same interest in
building roads as they do In grum-
bling about their condition, we
would soon have them good. Some
people think they pay heavy road
tax, and surveyors ought to macad-
amize all of the public roads. They
forget that the road has to be made
and kept In repair afterwards. We
will venture the assertion that there
is more money spent in keeping
twelve miles of the Winchester pike
In repair then there is levied for
sixty miles in Arden District. The
road levy for Arden amounts to
about seven hundred dollars, less
the delinquents list and sheriff's
commission. The court ordered that
three dollars be allowed for lime
stone roads and two dollars for slate.
Let any one make the calculation
and they will see the enormous
amount of money that the surveyor
has to make and keep in repair fif-
teen miles Of roads, and IL he is a
sane man he will wonder how it is
that the roads are kept in as good
condition as they are at present.
GrrrprNy<s Dfvrr