The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-01-25
Our County Commissioners, and
bridges.
WoLF's VALLEY, WEST Va, /
January 0, 1882.


Editor Register: Urgent as is the
necessity for complaint at the want
Of action on the part of our County
Court in relation to the re.erection
of a bridge across the Thirteen Mile
Creek at this place (ths Loomis ford,
| comply with the request Of my
neighbors to make it, with extreme
reluctance.
Early last summer petition was
drawn up and signed by nearly every
citizen living along the road from
here to the Kanawh river; from here
to the head waters of Mud Lick fork,
and from here up the ridge road as
far as McDermitts mill on the main
creek, praying the County Court to
appoint commissioners to take pro-
posals for the re.erection of this
bridge.
When that position was presented
to the Court it was shown that this
was among the most important roads
in the county; that there was more
teamins on it than any other county
road; TINT the creek was subject to
sudden and unexpected rises and
floods in the summer season, which
rendered it impossible for hours to.
gether; that the ice frequently block.
dup the ford in the winter, and that
the "ford" was not on public proper.
ty, but on the land of a private indi-
vidual who would, perhaps, have a
legal right to fence it up at any time.
1t was also shown by number of
witnesses that the abutments of the
old bridge were still standing firmly
in their places; and that the span
was not more than sixty or sixty.fve
feet.
Yet SO far as we are able to learn
the Court have not deemed it worth
their while to take the slightest no.
tice of shis petition; not even taking
the trouble to consider it. Quietly
letting the matter pass over. APP
parently careless alike of the petition
and the petitioners.
Now | have the highest respect for
every member composing our County
Court, and believe that in the main
each desires to do his duty. Bus
doubtless they are like other men;
and | presume they are sometimes
in hurry to adjourn and get back to
their homes. 1t is true that some
may urge that if they accepted their
present position with knowledge
that by doing SO they agreed to serre
the people. Why then, the people had
right to call upon, and expect them
to do SO. But then we should reflect
that they have so many things to oc.
cupy (and perhaps fully engross)
their attention that they ought not
to be expected to remember all of
them without continued and loud
mouthed reminders Of just the par.
ticular matter which are, at the time
being, may wish them to pass upon.
When this petition was presented
10 the Court last summer, large
number of witnesses were called and
examined, on the part of the petit
TONERS, all of whom testified to the
great necessity Of an immediate re.
erection of the bridge. He who pre-.
sented it was sustained by the vol
untary assistance Of nearly every
member of the bar who was present,
all Of whom warmly advised the
Court of the pressing need of this
bridge; Qikcly some of them had
been water.bound here while out
electioneering and know whereof
they speak). And when the matter
was finally submitted to the Court,
the petitioners were careful to leave
the papers in its hands. There have
been several terms OF Court since
then, and yet no action taken in re-
gard to the bridge. Through fear
that they may continue to "forget
the matter" from time to time, ]
have at last, in slow way, come to
the resolution of calling upon your
courtesy, as public journalist work
ing for the general interest of the
people, to publish our statement Of
the matter. There it will always be
handy and in your clear, neat print,
for the Court TO see, whenever it has
leisure to attend to such petitions,
Ms having limo sinrn hpen snhp,;ttod