Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-05-07

The following is the annual report Of
DIR. 1. S. Tanner, President Of the Shep-
herdstown and Halltown Turnpike, for
the year ending April 80, 1886:
To the Hon. Commissioners Composing
the County Court of Jefferson County,
West VIginia.-I herewith enclose for
your inspection full and true state
ment of all the receipts and expenditures
of the Shepherdstown and Halltown
Turnpike for the year ending April 80,
1886.
1t will be seen by the vouchers No.
l, and 3 that the receipts from all
sources for the year ending April 80,
1886, amounted in the aggregate TO $685.
"a five hundred and sixteen dollars and
thirty-four cents), and the expenditures
to $700.79 (seven hundred dollars and
seventy-nine cents). OF this amount,
included in the incidental expenses Of
the present year, were sl56.53 Zone hun
dred and tifty-six dollars and fifty-three
cents), was the sum remaining unpaid
of the two previous years, and $53.66
(fifty-three dollars and sixty-six cents),
was for the repair of the gate houses
which were badly in want of it, and
$24 ttwenty-four dollars, for the re-
moval of the snow drifts. The sum
used in the removal of snow drifts added
nothing to the benefit of the county
property, nor to the permanent improve
ment of the road. look upon the ex-
penditure Of the latter sum of doubtful
propriety, as it was done principally at
the instance of those who clamor loudest
for good roads but pay the least in the
support of them. The snow drifts &C.
CURED at a time in the year when the
farmers, who mainly keep up the roads,
have the least use for them, and to spend
the money of the county to clean them
of an obstruction that nature herself
would remove in thirty to forty days at
farthest, which ought to be spent in the
permanent Improvement of them for
the entire balance of the ten and a-half
months of the year or longer, seems to
lack the approval of economy. Should
a like occurrence in future intervene, |
shall be governed entirely in the matter
by orders from the County Court. In
the report to the Court for the year end
ing April 80, 1884, paid out of my own
means $6.5S more than the aggregate
receipts of the road. In the year end
ing April 30, 1885, paid over and above
the receipts (as the report for that year
will show for work done OIL it $l49.9S
Zone hundred and forty-nine dollars and
ninety.eight cents). For the year end
ing April 80, 1885, $27.92 (twenty-seven
seven dollars and ninety-two cents as
this report will attest; making in the
aggregate 1884 40 Zone hundred Eand
eighty-four collars and forty-flve cents).
This amount is included in the incident
al expenses Of tie present report except
the $27 .92, which constitutes part of
the "remaining unpaid" of this report.
The aforesaid amounts being included
in the incidental expenses of the pres
ent year, make in the aggregate $4O2.5l
-four hundred and two dollars and fifty
one cents). The entire expenditures
for the year ending April 80, 1856, were
$700.79; incidental expenses Gncluding
the remaining unpaid" of the years
1884 and 1885, $402. 5l; leaving s29S.2S.
For this amount of $29S.2S two hundred
and ninety-eight dollars and twenty
eight cents), you have put upon the
road 1865 perches Of stone, broken and
spread. The cost OF the repairs to the
gate houses was actually necessary for
the comfort of the gate keepers.
Yours, respectfully,
|. S. TANNER.