The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-08
County Roads and City Streets.

AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA, Feb 1888.
MEssRs. EDIToRs.-I read, some weeks SINCE In
one of your city apers, which one cannot remem
Der. though In the vIRaINIAN believe, an article
on our (?) county roads. signed A. g. s. The writer
take to be citizen OF Staunton. make this con-
lecture not as anything his dlscredit at all, be-
cause am one OF the old countrymen who has
never been able to see that a man should be con-
demned simply on account of his residence in your
city but for reason that will follow The letter of
A. G. s. is brimful of common sense, and win, hope
result in good. endorse every word he says. His
article shows a thorough knowledge of the import
anca of good roads On this subject he is thinker
in advance of his generation, and I, for one shall
be pleased to see many articles from him and other
sensible men on the subject. feel tempted to add
suggeston two as to the condition or the county
roads, which now almost impossible, but must
conne myself for the present to calling the atten-
ion of A. G. S. to the old adage that 'chartty begins
at home" Let him take the beam out OF his own
eye before he removes the mote frum his brothers.
tits quite true that roads are now very bad,
and will remain 50 for two months perhaps, but
do not believe they are verse now than some ofyour
city streets. Our roads will soon be good, while
your streets for time, whereof the memory OF man
runneth not 10 the contrary, have remained in
terrible condition the year round.
PAO|oA~NS
miles of roads to keep up. You have, should
think not more than six miles of streets, and those
streets right under the eyes Of the whose duty
1t Is to see that they properly kept up. defy
A. G. s., even during the summer months, to show
me any considerable section Of street in Staun
ton where you can move team at trot without
mourning the 1isk of a smash up.
can safely say that any overseer Of roads in my
section of the county would be reported promptly
to the Grand Jury If he were to leave such drains
across our roads be found across the main
street OF your town, within hundred yards Of
where your City Council has It's weekly sittngs. Il
believe your Council meets in the Grange Hall)
Your correspondent having been victim Of one
OF the Main Street smash traps was casting about
to see what redress there was for him, and found
that all he could do to the CITY, and he found
at Me same time that lawyer would charge him
about three times the amount Of probable YER
dict 1t is useless to add that the suit was aban-
doned.
You will doubtless admit, Messrs Editors, that
your streets are exceedingly narrow. and yet wood
wagons and carts allowed to stand for hours on
Augusta street, rendering passage for vehicles
through that street, at times, impossible. Several
times within the last year, in coming into yourcty
have been forced to leave Augusta Street at DR..
WaddelPs residence and make detour OF square
to reach the livery stables.
But this is not all, Messrs. Editors. Not satisfied
with blocking up tie streets in this way, builders
are allowed to subject every one coming into your
city to great inconvenience by approprtattng the
side walks and taking up one-half OF the street
with lumber, brick, &C., while building is being
erected.
trust Messrs. Editors, that A. G. g. will give his
attention to the above suggestions to home rule,
and see what he can do In correcting the troubles
that under his eye. The Of remedyng the evils
above named would be nominal, and hope that
Mr.. A. G.. s. will turn his guns on your Town Coun-
Gil and point out their duty in the premises.
COUNTY.