Catoctin clarion., 1891-01-22
lCoMMUNICATED.1

t.iat eHeCV. Hey
ICoMMUNIcATED.
A short time ago noticed
an article in your paper sighed by "Tax'
payer" condemning the road supervisor and
commissioners for the accident which occur.
red on the road which was washed out,
leading from Zentzs saw mill to Eylers
Valley. In justice both to the supervisor
and to the commissioners, it Is right and
proper that the people should know the
reason why this road has not been repaired.
The local residents we'll remember the
great food of last August which washed
away all the bridges, and a great part of the
road bed on the road mentioned; it is there
fore needless to go into particulars concern
ing it.
After being notified that the bridges had
been swept away and that the road WAS i'm
passable, the commissioners rs soon as they
could make 1t conyenient went 10 view the
scene Of the disaster The road crossed the
stream (Which is one OF the forks of Owens
crcck) five times within the distance of prob
ably half mile The three bridges which
had been constructed but few years ago,
together with all the masonry, were entirely
washed away, and had this freshet not come
as soon as it did, we were crcdibly inform
ed, there would have been petition present
ell before the Board for bridging the other
two fords as the crossings were said to be
very unsafe and uncertain during the winter
and spring months.
Since the bed of the road for considerable
distance had become utterly impossible, it
occurred to the Board, that If it was practic.
able, to rc.locate the road away from the
stream 80 as to avoid the frequent washouts
and to save the expense Of SO much bridge
building in so short distance. It would be
both economy and expedency to do so.
Therefore, upon the receipt of petition
signed by large number OF Taxpayers all
favoring a re location, and with agreements
signed by the persons through whose land
the road WAS to pass, granting the county
right of way free of charge, Uwo persons
only exacting very slight damages,) the COM
mssionere appointed a day for all parties
interested, to meet them on the ground where
the road was TO be located. The Board with
their surveyor met them at the appointed
time and after viewing the situation, all dc.
termned that there were but two practical
routes by which the road could bc relocated,
yiz:-c,thcr ON the north side or on south
side of the stream.
The route on the north side would require
one bridge SO or 40 feet long, and owing to
the PERCEPTIONS side of the mountain which
encroaChes to the edge. at very short bend
in the stream would either take a very large
fill with much masonry equal in expenditure
to second bridge, or about $50 feet of trestlc
work.
The other route on the south side would
require but one bridge about 80 feet long
which together with the bed of the road,
would bc far above high water mark.
The Commissioners desiring to please the
persons interested took the vote Of all those
present, to see which route they would pre-
fer, large majority voted for the south side
route, whereupon they had that route sur.
veyed, and instructed the supervisor to pro.
coed at once TO open the road.
The supervisor commenced to make the
road few days after the survey was made,
and the Commissioners were making ar
engagements to have the bridge constructed,
when one of the parties who had signed an
agreement to give gratis the right of way
changed his mind as to the location and the
work had to be suspended. Had this objcc-
ton not been made, the road and bridge
would have long ere this time been complet-
cd.
The law empowers the Commissioners to
lay out road where all parties concerned
are satisfied, but il there is any objection,
examiners must then be appointed and the
usual legal proceedings Of advertising and
assessing damages must hc complied with,
which would take 60 or 80 days at least.
Had a majority of the local residents
favored the north side, it is highly probable
and indeed almost certain that the Commits.
sloners would have re located 1t on that side.
The objcctiny party is persistent in having
it re located on the old road bed and has
proceeded without any instructions fIom the
Board to rebuild the bridge and to repair the
old road bed The Commissioners object to
putting the road on the old site for the fol.
lowing reasons, viz:
First, 1t will cost almost as much to repair
the old road bed permanently rs it will to
make new road above highwater mark
Second, 1t will entail the expense to the
county of building and keeping in future
repair FIVE bridges, whilst either of the other
routes would take but one bridge.
Third. The banks of the stream are lined
with large trees, many of them hanging by
few roots, and may fall into the stream at
any time; and If all the bridges should be
replaced future freshet is liable to wash
them sll away again.