Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-03-03
IS 1T A LIVE QUESTION?

The views expresse ed by the people last
Court-day in relation to the improvement
of the county roads, turned not so much on
objections to the plan of the Board of Su-
pervisors for that purpose as they did upon
unwarranted apprehensions of increased
taxation. To this was added desire to
know in advance how every feature OF the
law was to work for this or chat neighbor-
hood. Upon this latter point, there were
many conflicting views. Those who enter
tanned them, too, did not seem willing to
yield, even at the sacrifice Of what all DEEM
ed public blessing. A most efectual way
this is, OF course, conceded to be, to cripple,
if not defeat, any proposition of this nature,
however worthy its general merits may be.
Repeating the statement, the real merits OF
the question as it must be, if ever accepted,
were virtually discarded for distractions by
many, and by others who could not tolerate
the existence of power vested in the
Board of Supervisors, if authorized to make
a loan, which can now be exercised to
greater degree than was proposed under the
understood conditions of loan. 1t has
been demonstrated that with taxation at a
less rate than is now authorized, the loan
could be amply provided for, and with the
details of labor added, full system Of Nc
Adamizing and more efficient working OF
the roads would go on than now exists. In
going forward with such an enterprise as
the one in question-for it is still consider
ed alive-local feelings and jealousies should
| be discarded; and right here let it be sale
| that if it fail, such rivalries will be tie
cause. The town and the county are ideD-
teal in real interests. The thing represent
ed as adverse to this conclusion is the en-
envy of both. Because some minds con
ceive the existence of a difference of inter
est does not make it so. If the friends of
improvement will not assent to it in discus
sing the matter, but hold to the truth as it
is, a new and a more pleasant phase would
soon come over the whole question, giving
unity in action, as it should be, by all.
Nor is it alone between town and county
that the spirit of separate interests exists,
for often one section, for want of concilia-
tion, is against another. Thus the great
purpose, conclusive in its merits to the
minds of all, is made subordinate, and is
clogged in the progress all desire it should
make It is seemingly impossible to equal
hano ito tn Oft WI r1f,f
i reside on leading highway, but yet thai
lis not the case. Though he may not be di.
rectly benefited. he will be Indirectly. Di
rect advantages of improved transportation
The property receiving the largest benefit,
pays the highest tax, just as the property
not so situated bears the lighter burthen.
Much has been said about the necessity
for the people to determine the matter anc
that it is not for the Board of Supervisor
to accept a discretion relative to It, In q
general way that conclusion in its full force
is not controverted. The present road-laW
\Qf Augusta county clothes the Board witt
me very large powers. One is the power
x personal and real property for road
es, at the discretion Of the Board
Ter cent. on every hundred dollars
kat law made and put in force
klre Of 1Ss3-'84 made it, anc
A., ar OF Supervisors with au
thority to e4( The privilege TO taz
as high as twenty per cent. is very exalt
ed one. 1t seems not to have been regard
ed as dangerous then. Why should it nowf
for at last the loan must be considered in
the amount of taxes it would require to car.
ry it through series of years.
The special road-law for Augusta is the
same as that of Frederick, Clarke, and
Warren counties, except in this, that those
counties cannot tax higher than twelve-and
a-half per cent, whilst to Augusta county
twenty per cent. is granted her Board
Other counties, which, at the same session
procured special road-laws, did not clotht
their Boards with the authority secured tt
the Augusta Board, and were imperative
till approved by the people. After this
precedent, the difference, SO far as Augusta
county is concerned, whether her Board o.
| Supervisors shall commence the work o.
progress in the slow way of annual appro
prlations from the resources SO raised, o.
rom The same fountain of supply in provi
din. a loan, concentrating the design IN
short while, is about as great as that be
tween tweedle- dee and tweedle-dum. The
power to levy twenty per cent. is unques
toned and less than that amount would &C
mplish system of Matchmaking, ane
t with the levies of labor the same as now
would make all the roads better than a
present. The Board looked at the matte
f practically, with the sole object of accom-
0 plishing good, and whether the member
stand by their work or not, it cannot b.
f said, under the precedent named, that the,
e we're seeking, really, any larger power
than they already possessed. If, under tn
: circumstances surrounding the manner c
: giving effect to the law of 1sS3-'94 the T
was none, where is the danger now in au
o thorizing the Board to make available tina
q power for the best interests of the people
If in securing good county roads-a resu
/, that all desire.
9 Presidents Mossage. f. Tie Senate.