Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-05-02
MACADAMIzE.

the dollar will liquidate the debt.
Many Of our important thorough
fares have been impossible this winter
S iall we contiuue TO suffer this incon-
venience If the levees of Louisiana
and Belgium were breaking through,
would the inhabitants of the valley be-
low cry, Hold, hold don't repair the
embankment, we are III debt one and
three quarter cents on the dollar, we
must pay this first !" If a member of
your family were sick, would it be wise
to delay the calling of a physician for a
time?
Would it have been a wise thing for
the city of Martinsburg to do without
water until she could pay for water
works.
Our highways are a system al low
ways--a succession Of cutters Must
we allow the turbid waters to continue
to flow as they have, or shall we revo-
lutionize the road system III Berkeley
County and eflectually decide that public
roads and water ways are incompatible
on the same ground. Wheeled vehicles
are for terra lffma . the keel and rud-
der for the latter
Political economists have exhausted
themselves on the subject and with
one accord agree that nacadam is the
only cheap material that is practical.
The golden opportunity is here for our
county to vote money into her
pocket, and the truth of the statement
is patent to every observer. One has
only to watch the market to see that
land on the macadamized roads is bring
from $40 to $50 per acre more than
similar lands in isolated districts II
it would add but fifty cents per acre it
would be sufficient to give us SIPS, 600.
Our every day observations tell us it is
doing much better than that.
IT we could swing the Shepherds
town and Swan Pond roads around to
the position now occupied by the Will
Transport pike, with Martinsburg for a
pivot. wouldn't our friends on the pike
raise their hands III righteous indigna-
ton ? But Hedgesville, Spring Mills
and Little Georgetown receiving the
WilliamSport pike would rejoice, and
Shanghai and Tuscarora would have a
chance TO test the tenacity of Hedges
vile district clay. The citizens OF
Bunker Hill and Darkesville could ex-
plore the depth Of Gerardstown soil.
But our Sulphur Spring and BurnS's
Ford folks would go into ecstasy over
the Winchester pike. Contemplate the
scene, would it be one of rejoicing
among the members of the County
Court, every one of whom would be
buried beneath the miry clay (where
they should be if they don't support
the bilD. How they would rejoice that
they are rid of toll gates ~ and what
a cloud Of gloom and unfeigned sorrow
would befall our present soft-soil dele
cation that they must hence forward
discontinue the exploration of subter-
ranean mysteries with no better tools
than highly polished buggy wheels
Methinks the macedonian cry Of come
over ard help us out of the mud
would be the tocsin led off by Hon. b.
NJ. Kitchen, who would be relieved
by the willing hand Of Bro Riner
saying, Bro. Kitchen, LET me pull the
rope" and friend Seibert would say,
Mr. Riner, pull harder or give me
the bell
As sure as drum sticks ifthis change
could be, the mount Of tribulation
would rise higher than the Himalayas,
and yet the county would be be no
worse off than it is today II is when
we arc sick we most appreciate health
when financially broken we know the
value Of money.
We ought to have a jail but maca-
dam for our roads is quite as necessary
as a French bath equipment for a pro
fessional Jail bird We don't under
value the former but we think the good
citizens Of Berkeley are as much emit.
tied to comfort on the outside as a den
of drunkards, and thieves and adulter-
ers, and burglars, and lnurderers are on
the inside of a comfortable Jail. And
it is blind Court that can't see it.
We have noticed some few selfish
fellows who have enjoyed the privilege
of pixies all their lives, who would vote
against granting them to anyone else.
Such fellows ought to be planted in the
middle of one of those holes i'll the
road, and then fed upon
the cohesive stuff with an earthen
spoon until he learns it is not always
a good thing to stick TO the soil
Glance for moment at the history
of our macadamized roads. The Viii
Transport pike is the best drive north
Of the city, and yet it does not cost the
county a silver. The best way west of
the county seat is the Tuscarora grade,
which cost the county but $50. co.
South of us is the Winchester pike
another road free to the county. The
81, 900 annually expended is distri-
buted on the other roads, all Of which
are no better than they were 10 years
ago, and with few exceptions very
much worse. rs not this bJima Eacie
evidence that all principal roads should
be made of stone And the people
who use them most should keep them
up in proportion as they use them.
The fellow who opposes them because
he lives iii Terrapin Neck, McCubbiu's /
Ford, Bruoefown, or Cherry Run is a
for the lunatic asylum. II is
rue better roads would be of no use to |
lin if he stay there and nobody goes
o see him, but should he appear oc-
,asionally among his fellow men, he !
would have all the advantages enjoyed |
" every other citizen
All public advances have been con-
ested by mossbacks and croakers, but We
wish future generations to see that we I
'oted on the side Of progress.
We summarize as follows
The election should be held speedily. (
Our roads are practically impossible. |
If the Court refuses to let us vote, |
he responsibility rests with them, /
otherwise with the people where it I
hould belong.
The county debt is insignificant and I
an be foated at low rate of interest.
For every dollar spent the county
will make $500.
1t is better than iails ard railroads.
The history Of our roads owned by
'rivate individuals proves conclusively
he county should have more of them
The rfaot7as- crasYf ,,o.x. er...er x,.I,-