The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-02-14
County Roads.

| to call attention to the oft discussed topic
of county roads than the present. But we
do not know whether what we may say will
have any more effect on tho people of the
county than the presentations we have
made in behalf of manufactures have had
on the citizens of Staunton. 1t will do
no harm at any rate, to instance the pres
ent condition of the county roads, and the
great loss imposed thereby upon our citi-
| zens by reason of this. At time when
farm work is slack and all kinds Of haul
ing should be done, we find the public
roads in such condition that it is next to
impossible to run an empty wagon over
them, to say nothing OF an ordinary load.
No one will dispute this. and not a tax
payer in the county will controvert the
proposition that to pay an additional tax
of sc OF $40, and thereby have good macad-
amized roads the year round-at all times
in a condition to admit of loaded wagons
passing over them, without strain on the
animals or excessive wear and tear OF
wagons would be economy and money
saved.
1t is not our purpose in this article to
attempts amy accurate calculation of the cost
| Of Il thorough system of county roads. We
simply start out with the proposition that
it would be economy for the county
to appropriate $500 600 in such sums
| as would meet the demands of the
improvement, to be expended under prop
er authority and under contract with par
! ties competent to make the improve
ments the necessities of the people re-
qnire. Say 500, 900 for first instalment,
| aild so on us the progress of the improve
ments would demand These contracts to
embrace the thorough improvement of the
roads from Staunton to the extremes of
! the county, on all the main roads leading
from this place, and such interesting
! roads Us the authorities might decide on.
| There would have to be II starting point,
and there c0uld he no better place from
which TO make il than Stanton. And
! while there might he some conflict of opin-
ion us Ia this, the weight OF reasoning
would be in favor Of ii.
The amount suggested would seem huge
| at first glance. hut when it is examined it
county as Augusta, and The taX-bnrden it
/ would impose; mere bagatellc compared
with the advantages TO be gained. Augusta
| county is entirely out of debt. She has
three railroads running through her entire
| limits north and south and east and west.
which haye not cost her dollar, while
| Staumtol subscribed 100000 for one of
! them. The addition to the value of the
lands, caused by the Improvement of the
| county roads. would more than compensate
for the outlay oceasl0ned by the improve
ment. The economy0f time which would
| be realized. i'll being able to haul from
home to market ut all seas0nS. especially
| such weather as this, when no other work
demands pressing attention, would aggre-
gate, in few years, in money, rs much as
the subscription suggested. The saving in
| the wear and tear Of machinery would be an
| other important item going to compensate
| flesh, enabling the farmer to dispense with
one OF two animals, which are indispensi-
| bic in transporting decent load over our
| present roads, should be an item in the
saving to the agriculturist. The stimulus
that would be given to farm and garden
| productions and the amount which would
| be realized on the excess of production
would go far to return to the tax-pay all
| the additional levy that would have to be
made. In fact the advantages would be
so multifarious and the saving SO great,
that in less than twelve months after a
| thorough system of good county roads was
put in operation, the people would be fully
compensated for the expenditure that
would be required.
With good roads once established there
would be no difficulty in keeping them up.
A very meagre toll exacted would suffice
for all the requirements of repairs and Sc
cure TO the county perpetual road system
that would far excel in the advantages to
| flow from it, the construction of half-doz-
| en- railroads.
We throw out these suggestions to the
people OF the county, and ask them to take
this matter into consideration, with a view
to some practical, tangible action in the
| premises. There is no need in the county
SO pressing. There is nothing that would
opererate to their advantage so easy of
accomplishment, There is no investment
Chat would pay better for the present and
future generations. Nothing that would
| contribute more comfort and convenience.
and in all its relations, be so universally
| beneficial. Will not some of our active,
public-spirited farmers take hold of this
important subject, and reduce some prop
| osition to form so that it's merits may be
| considered at once, and the improvements
inaugurated without delay? Unless we
intend to rest contented with the present
deplorable road system, costing SO, much
and fruitful of so much annoyance and
loss, there should be prompt action and a
liberal spirit take hold of the matter in
real earnest.