Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-01-31
DIR COUNTY ROADS.

with the SuOJecC OF Improvement
in our county roads before the peo-
pie, / would like to bring the ques-
ton of turnpike, or macadamized
roads once more to the front. Plac-
ing our average expenditure under
the present system at $9000-(and
our recent sheriffs place it higher)-
my proposition is this: Ask the Leg
islature to empower our County
Court to issue $4,000 worth Of
bonds. These foated at per c. will
engage $4,000 of our $4,000 and ofthe
remaining $4,000. / would devote
$4,000 to keeping in order our less
important or side roads, and the
$1,000 / would devote to sinking
fund to present to our posterity with
the invitation to step up and pay for
the good roads we had given them.
We have now disposed of our
$4,000 yearly, and have on hand
$l50,00O in bonds, with the various
estimates OF from $4,000 to $500 as
the cost for macadamizing q mile Of
our roads, let us take $1,000; and we
have sufficient sum to give US 125
miles of good road. / would now
gather by election an advisory board
of not less than 8 from each magis-
trates district to take Martinsburg
as our common business centre and
determine what roads and how many
miles of each should be changed
from their present unfortunate con-
dition to we'll made turnpike. /
would have them also determine
whether the work should be done
by contract or have the county
purchase improved stone crushers,
and have the work done under the
supervision of competent and well
paid supervisor. l WOULD place up
on each road a dollhouse with mini
nun rate of toll, only sufficient to
keep the road in repair for a period
of say ten years and at the end of
that time the road be declared open
for free travel now in furtherance
OF my proposition would urge the
general unsatisfactory condition of
the roads uRder our present system
and large expenditure, that we have
no adequate return for the money ex-
pended, and if you add to it, the ex-
pense of lost time, and the extra
amount paid in blacksmith's bills,
and an amount to equalize the free
labor, we would have grand total
that would cause us to turn aside in
shame that we so long expended
with open hand for such meagre re-
turns.
To those who would oppose my
proposal on the plea of not issuing
more bonds until we have paid our
$105, 900 now due. l would say l be-
lieve my proposal to be sound f.
nance, one step toward getting out
of the mud, Financial and actuaD. In
the first place, we are not the parties
at all, to pay these bonds. Make
the bonds for 80 years and /
think there will be but few who are
interested in public questions to-day
| who will be interested in Berkeley
Co. roads in 1921.
Are they liens Or real estate, very
we'll, there is not a farm or an acre
in the county, that coming in con-
tract with macadamized will not
have its earning power increased at
once, and its selling power increased
many times over the extra amount
of lien placed upon it, with land of
equal producing power as those in
Washington Co., our lands sell from
| $40 to $50 per acre, and theirs, from
| $40 TO 500. And we are simply
short in that proportion of taxable
property.
If man has a work to do, or a
| debt to pay give him good tools or
good roads and he will accomplish
his aims.
Wherefore do We spend money for
that which is not bread ? and
your labor for that which satisfieth
| not? all of which is, with tears for
the past, prayer for the present, and
| some slight hope for the future, re-
spectfully submitted to their Honors
of our County Court and the tax
PAYERS of the county.