The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-03-26
County Roads.
Fan tho NmGInIAN

MEssRs. EDIroRs-Some twelve months ago,
1 gave you an article fer your valuable paper,
roads by contract The article was vehemently
opposed by some unknown writer to me. and
advocated by another, myself defending my pc
sition upon the plan that will now try to re
produce, which, in my opinion, requires no ad
ditonal legislation to put 1t In effect In section
repairing bridges and opening new roads in the
counties Of Frederick, Clark. Warren and Au-
gusta, approved Feb. 26, 1854, is the following
language: 1.-THE board of road commissioners
may, when they deem it expedient, have the
by contract" The same law ii Section has the
following language 1.-The duties o. the oyelseer
shall be to see that the roads in his district are
kept in good repair; that the bridges are in safe
condition; that the roads are kept free from Oh
structions; that all loose stones are removed,
and for there purposes he may employ such
number Of laborers, teams, wagons, carts and
ploWs as may be necessary, with the consent
a just allowance Shall be made for the labor
teams, plows and other implements which may
Thus it is obvious that the oyerseer has it in
his power to make heavy charges upon the
county for very little work. 1t is true, IL must
be done by the consent and approval Of the con,
missioner of roads, but it is impossible for the
commissioner or roads to know just how many
hours those teams, plows &c. were employed
in each day OF whether it was necessary for
them to be on the road the full time reported
the Keeping up of the roads be let to contract.
the contractor to have the benent OF the labor
for two days in each year, of every man amen
able to work on public roads under the present
law, and shall have the same power to compel
work. prosecute and collect fines as given in
section 10 of said act. This being understood,
the lowest bidder for a stipulated amount Of
money, over and above the amount of labor as
signed to said road district, shall have the con-
tract. According to this plan labor will be more
economised and the roads OF the county kept in
better condition and at hess expense to the
county. Under this system favoritism would not
be known; or il it prevailed, it would be at the
expense OF the contractor and not the county.
After he has exhausted the labor assigned him
in the agreement, he will be at liberty to get
labor upon any terms he can make with his EN-
ployees, but should be held to keep the road in
such repair as agreed upon and at the amount
contracted for. 1 will not intrude upon your
space with further details
am OF the opinion that there are but few citi
ZenS in Augusta county that would object to
giving two days work to the roads of his neigh
berhood, especially when he considers that the
public schools and charitable institutions of the
State are kept up by the tax payers for the bene
fit OF all. The poor well as the rich tine black
as well as the WHITEHALL mutually share their
benefits Now is the time to bring this matter
before the people of the county. Let the candi
dates for commissioner of roads speak out upon
this subject, and the verdict as rendered in the
ballot box will voice the sentiments of her cit
liens.
Respectfully,
E. L. HOUFF, ST..