Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-01-21
County Rsads---HQw hade.
TFo1 the SPECTATOR.

| O0uuty hedus--HQW u&ue.
[Fo1 the SPEcTAToR.J
Inasmuch as it il contemplated to give our
county roads more attention and expend
considerable money on them, let US take
| view of them. Some of them have ceased
| to be of sufficient public utility to justify
much expense on them, in consequence Of
the projection Of new lines of railways, and
from other causes. The location and grade
| of others should be improved before furth.
er labor and expense are put on them. An
eye should now be had to greater perma-
nence of location. In some Places too mar
row for the essential side bitches: they can
be made wider; the grades may be improved
and unnecessary roads discontinued. But,
they are earth-roads. What can be done
with them? We are not able now to Nc
Adamize them all. If we were, good road
bed of earth properly drained must first bs
provided before gravel should be placed On
the road. Then we are under the necessity,
for the present, to rely on sarth-roads. How
| are they best made and maintained in goc
condition? An earth-road, with suisa
soil and good exposure, properly shs
and drained by side bitches, will ma
good highway, except when The
loOsened by thaw, or by prot
Both Of these evils can be great
| ed by mak1ug ana Keeping the
| round in the center, shedding wa
| ly into the side-ditches. Here is
common fault lies in road-makine.
middle is not sufficiently raised to she,
the water, but is left flat and freque.
lower than the border of the road. Tho
the road becomes water-soaked and deep
To raise all the roads in the center with the
proper taper will require much labor znd
expense, but nothing short of it will give
good roads. Noone acquainted with the sub
lject will dispute this; but, the difficulty is to
sufficiently impress the fact on the minds Of
road-masters. 1t is almost equally impor-
tant, after the water is shed from the facn
of the road to the side -ditehes, that it should
be carried away to prevent saturating ths
road bed by the sides. 1t is common err
ror to make inadequate drains to carry the
accumulated water away from the road. 4
ditch of considerable width, depth, and fall
must be prov idsd to prevent filing up and
choking.
! The present Road Commissioners were
appointed, by the late County Judge, %
| hold for only one year. In May next, tie
people of the districts will elect comnis-
sioners to Eold for two years. Appointed
| with each commissioner will be district
Supervisors and another, called Director.
| appointed by the County Judge. This
| board will determine the amount OF money
needed for the roads of the district (same g,
Magisterial district) for one year Tbs
Board of County Supervisors are bound to
levy Gu the district the amount certified by
the local board as aforesaid. The County
Treasurer will collect and disburss the
| funds according to law. Each district will
receive for its own roads the amount paid
| by it in taxes. The local board cannot ex.
ceed twenty cents tax on the hundred dol
| lars in any one year; nor require ulo-s thas 4
two days labor in one year. These are th1
maximums. In practice, the amounU
be less, probably not exceeding ten or
cents on the hundred dollars. NJ?
| of tax and labor must be consio
enable the roads, in cases of gres
| to roads and bridges, as in the
| food Of 1870, to restore tho damag
are harmless under the admins
prudent board. An indiscroet B
posing excessive, or unnecessar
can readily be made to step dow
at the election. The advocates
law are entitled a patient and ia
the scheme; 1t doubtless will suct
than its opponents suppose. The
system proposed few years ago,
marily rejected. The old syst,
still has its friends failed to give
ton. Those of US who advccatS
plans should now in good spirit
making fair test.
Another error committed by many is
tempt to make the road bed too wide, VIII
rsquiresa greatly increased fsinount of labor
and expenditxs>to give it the necessary
grade to the siGes, to shed the water quick
ly into the side-ditches. The result is, that
the road is left too low in the middle and
retains the water. A road-bed, wide enough
| for Valiclea n cafalz oh al
rounded, is much less expensive, more like
ly to be completed and maintained with cur
present means employed and present ability
to provide. These are essential features to
be observed in our earth-road system, with
out which, all our efforts will prove fail.
ure measurably. But, now comes the tug
of war-how is this werk to 6e done? There
is no poetry or rhetoric in it. The logic of
inexorable facts confronts us-stones =
mud, and water. To handle these
mussle, endurance, strength, intel
rection, and management. The
fife will not rally the men fort
The draft is the chief resort und
ent system, aided by few reg
died by taxation. If we hai
trict, for Road Commissioner,
of this important work, ma
erable Mr. Mason, to whose
ument should be erected
tainly have greatly improv,
least possible cost. The t.
when proper merit should
who labor to develop
try. In the psrfor
post of honor. T.
selves to the i'm
roads are entitlso
full cour try. Let nc
cial qualifications for
Roads decline the impo1
business of the country j
by the condition OF the
| faciiitntes tr.-~~SCtatior
ef "a
pra-
done.