Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-05-20
For the Spectator.
ROADS.

MR.. EDITOR:-
It is doubtful whether you hav e
tho data necessary to tell the miles of pub
lie roads in the county. Major Hotchkis
may have some Information derived from
surveys anL estimates made during the
war. The proposition to macadami re the
principal reads, does not, as we understand
it, contemplate more than the great lines
which lead to Staunton with the expec-
tation of improving the lesser roads az
soon as the resources of the county will
enable. Many embarrassing questions will
arise as to what are the most important,
and the order in which the work shall be
done. An intelligent gentleman who has
been considering the subject, estimates the
leading roaGs to measure five hundred
miles, which will be entitled to early in
provement. Probably this is too much.
If basis of three hundred miles is taken,
in what order and by whom shall it be de
cided or shall it all be CON menced simulta-
neousIy. To undertake so much will ne
cessitate the borrowing Of the needed
money-upou what On county bonds
alone, or county aud city boudsP By some
it is held that all are interested in the
public highways; all have equal rights on
th EN-, and that all shall assist ia macada-
MIXING hem. If all are to be taxed to
make the improvements, then it would
dppear just that all should have a voice in
determining what and how it shall be done.
If the improvements are to centre in Staun-
ion, it is held that there is such mutual
atty of pecuniary advantage that the city
should go into the work as full CO partner
in directing and paying. If this view is
insisted on, it may be well for the ''city
fathers" to save a little financial margin
for the contingency. Others hold that the
State should bear the expense of making
good roads in Virginia; that it is unjust to
cast this burden alone on the country to
the exemption of the cities and capitalists
All of these, and more theories are plat
sible but they open Pandora's box which
will make confusion doubly COMPOUNDED"
Some object to the improvements being
frst and alone made on the roads leading
to Stanton. That since the construction
of the railways their Tonnage and travel is
to the nearest Railway Station; that they
are interested in the towns springing up
numerously along the Valley roads and
have much less use for the Eoads to Staun-
ton than formerly.
Many are willing to macadamize, if their
favorite depot road is one of the number.
To conciliate this view of the matter, would
each District to confer with the people and
agree on which they regard the most i'm
portant roads to them for immediate im-
provement. After report from all the
Districts, better understanding can be
had as to what the several localities want,
and then some basis of calculation can be
made. The consideration of the roads is
predicated upon the suppositiOn that the
people are interested aud will enquire into
the subject in all it's bearings ana come to
safe and wise conclusion.
The financial feature of the case is the
most important and difficult, not only as
to who shall be taxed to mako the desired
improvements, but as to the policy of Dor
rowing and the ability to carry the debt.
This feature may be inquired into in an
other article. The study of roads is diff
cult one. and hence the necessity of taking
short lessons. Mr.. Editor, can you give
the usual cost of macadamizing road per
mile? Tom.
We must confess that we are unable to
answer the question asked Of us. We do
to measure the cost Of another unless ell
the circumstances are similar, such as the
width of the rosd, the depth OF the broken
rock, the proximity of limestone, the facil-
ity of hauling it, the cost of labor, etc. All
these and other circumstances should be
considered in making an estimate of the
cost per mile. TIE cost per mile for some
miles would be cheaper than others
on the same road, so that an estimate
should be made for each mile, and then the
average cost per mile and the aggregate
cost for the whole road could be ascer-
taiuedl