Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-03-24
Our County Roads.
Editors Vindicator:


Having seen in your columns the pro-
ceedings of a meeting held in the Court
House on last court day in regard to the
public roads of this county, am truly
glad to see that there is such interest man
ifested upon the part of the citizens OF our
county. J was not present at the meeting
but saw the proceedings, and am sorry
that there was so little done to remedy
the evil. I think it high time for ev-
cry citizen to wake up to the Importance
of having better roads i'll the county, and
even the entire State should have better
roads if they would have Northern CAPT
talists to invest in Virginia lands. But
we are more particularly interested in our
our own county. 1t seems that there was
quite variety of opinions expressed en-
court day as Co which is the best method
of improving the roads. Nj. r. L. Houn
| seemed to think that the road hands ought
| to work the road four days in the year in
stead of two, as the present law requires.
for one, am opposed to any such arrange
nent, and don't think that I am alone
in my opinion The old township system
is much better, but that still does not ac-
compllsh the end desired. What we want
| is soG-e sort of an arrangement that will
| bear equally or equitably upon all classes
Of reople, and l think MIR. Turk comes
,er filing the bill than any of the rest;
inat is by working the road by tax. My
opinion is that there should be special
capitation tax of probably Is cents, more
Or less. but not to exceed so cents, and
then add from ten to fifteen cents on the
one hundred dollars worth of real and per-
sonal property. That will in reasonable
time, McAdamiZs every public road in the
county. But some will say that we tried
| to vote tax upon the people a year or
more ago and they voted it down almost
unanimously, and so the did. and [ with
the rest voted against it, But the plan
| was the great objection. have talked to
a number of people who opposed and vo-
| ted against the tax, who are to-day, and
| have all the time been in favor of work.
| ing the roads by a special tax. But the
objection to the former road bill, was that
the people objected to borrowing the one
hundred thousand dollars in advance. The
idea is to make the money before you spend
1t, and save the interest to spend on the
roads where we will receive direct bene'
fit of the interest that would accrue On
the money borrowed. But some people
will say they can't pay the fifteen cents on
the one hundred dollars. think they can.
I speak from experience, and it is said that
experience is the best teacher. l lived in
Rockingham county from March 1861 to
March 1880, where had to pay fifteen
cents on the hundred dollars RAILROAD tax,
and there is but little hope of getting rid
of that tax in Rockingham. 1t would
have been much better for that county il
they had spent the money on the county
roads. think that the people Of Angus
TIA are fully able to pay fifteen cents or
| their county roads, where every man and
woman in the county will receive direct
benefit by having good roads Instead OF
having mud, in many places half knee
deep to horse, as has been the case this
winter am in favor of levying the tax
and making the roads as fast as we can
with the special tax. and in twenty years,
or probably less, we can have all of our
main roads McAdamized in the county
OF course we cannot expect to accomplish
all in one Or two wears, but patience and
energy will. in the course of time accom-
plish wonders. I will leave the subject for
the present, hoping to hear from others
and probably you may hear from me again
in the future. K,
Stover's Shop, March 10th.