The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-04-13
County Roads.

bills relating to the public roads OF the county
which were introduced in the General Assem-
bly,, the one by Maj. Koiner and the other by
Mai. Hanger The adoption of either, or
both, for the one is supplementary to the other,
and rigid enforcement of their provisions
would prove substantially beneficial to the
county, and in measure, remedy one of the
greatest disadvantages under which our peo-
| pie labor.
We cannot too earnestly urge upon the
farmers of Augusta the absolute necessity of
giving early attention to this important SUBJ
ject. 1t has been neglected entirely too long
already. Another year should not be allowed
to pass without securing 10 the county de-
cided improvement in the system of highways.
With every facility at hand for metaling the
roads; with resource amply sufficient to sup
ply all necessary funds, and with the cost in
broken vehicles and loss of time every year
amounting to a tax far more onerous than that
which would be required to place tie roads in
good order, it does seem that every considera-
ton of economy, convenience and profit de-
mands that speedy and definite action be
| taken to render easy communication with all
sections of the county. AS pertaining directly
to this subject, and affording some valuable
suggestions in regard to road ma king, we pub
fish in another column an article from the
| Country Gentleman which we commend to the
careful perusal of our readers.
The resolutions passed by the meeting held
/ n
should be adopted by every community, and
the suggestions they contain should be faith
| fully carried out without any unnecessary de-
lay. The plan they propose is practical, and
an improvement on the bill of Mr. Koiner in
that it contemplates tax of fifteen instead of
ten cents per annum for road purposes. With
this exception, the two plans are very similar.
| The result of the Parnassus meeting is but an
expression OF the sentiment of the citizens of
the county generally. The intolerable con-
dition of the roads during the past month
has aroused the people TO the necessity
of thorough system of improvement
that will remedy the worst portions of
the roads at once, and eventually result in the
partial if not entire matchmaking of all the
leading highways. The neighborhood roads
will share alike in the benefits which would
flow from the efficient execution of the plan
proposed in the resolutions referred to.
If tax of fifteen cents is annually laid, |
and the roads let to contract to competent and
responsible men, it will not be five years be-
fore the enhanced value of real estate along
the improved routes will more than compen-
safe for the outlay. The increased value |
of the property will of course increase the |
amount to be annually appropriated, and in
the same degree will the resulting benefits be
multiplied until we can point with satisfaction
to the roads of Augusta. Whilst the disadvan-
tages, Inconvenience and expense TO which our
farmers have been subjected this winter are
yet fresh in the public mind, we hope that the
subject will be agitated until there need be no
further cause for complaint.
Mr.. F. j Kimball, President of the Shen-
andoah Valley Railroad, accompanied by a
number of Eastern capitalists and iron
men, recently made tour of examina-
ton and observation over that road, as far
as Roanoke. They spent several days in
investigating the natural resources of the
country accommodated by this improve
ment, and especially the mineral fields in
Roanoke county. The policy of the Rail-
road company is to advertise, expose and |
develop the mineral wealth within reach of |
their line, as means of freight business
and profit, as we'll as benefit to the people
directly interested in the properties. The
mineral interests along this road are very
extensive and valuable, more especially in
Augusta and Rockbridge counties, and in |
few years we may reasonably expect an in
dustrial activity which will diffuse spirit |
and enterprise throughout the entire Sec
ton. The immense iron ore deposits at |
Vesuvius. Cotopaxi, Bear Bank, Kennedy, |
and other localities, all contiguous to each |
other, and to the Shenandoah Valley Rail- |
road, must sooner or later attract attention
and capital. The ores are of the best he
matites, and as the recently discovered and |
tested process of eliminating phosphoru
from such ores and adapting them to steel
manufacture, removes the only objection
that has been heretofore urged against
them, their value must be measured accord
ingly. Heretofore these mineral deposits
have been inaccessible, except by the ord
nary country wagon road. Now they are
reached by rail, controlled by a company
that properly estimates material development
and the advantages it must derive there
from. Pennsylvania presen is an illustra-
ton of the effects of the construction of the
Shenandoah Valley railroad through this
section. Similar lands to those we have in
this region were rated thirty years ago at
81 per acre. Now that railroads checker
that State, their value is measured by hum
dreds OF dollars per acre, and those not pos
sessing minerals but adapted to fruits and
grazing, are enhanced twenty fold. 1t can
not be very distant period when the prop
critics along this improvement will be ap-
propriated to industrial purposes, and
the wealth they contain, become factor in
the regeneration of Virginia and making
her the seat of industries, such as have made
Pennsylvania the powerful and affiuent