The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-22
COUNTY ROADS.
Their Condition in Big Lick
District.

The Salem Times Register to-day will
contain the following statement from
w. p Moomaw, supervisor of Big Lick
District:
"Will you be kind enough to give q
little space in your valuable paper to
the following report on the roads in
Big Lick District? think it is my
duty to make some kind of statement,
to let tho people of the district know
what has been done with their money
when 1 took charge of tho roads,
July l, 1891, found them in a bad con-
dition. Especially was this the case in
Big Lick, Bonsacks and Vinton pro-
cincts: no side bitches and no place to
make Them fences built in the roads,
wheat growing where the road should
be, and in many places, on account of
fences and gullies, there was not room
for two wagons to pass, while the proper
width of tho roads was 80 and 40 feet.
"Mr. w. &. Wood, who is overseer of
the roads in Bonsack precinct, reports
eight miles of road bedded up and side
ditched. lie has moved ard had moved
about nine miles of fence. There has
been expended on his roads about $500,
including his salary and for scrapers,
carts, harness, shovels, picks, drills,
hammers, powder, fuse, dynamite, etc.
His roads are in q fine condition. Mr.
Isaac Huff, who lives in that part of the
county, says he never saw money better
spent. Mr.. David Woodson, who lives
near Bonsacks, says it is pleasure to
drive over the roads. Mr.. Wood reports
that 70 per cent. of the tax has been
collected by labor and in money
precinct, reports about i've miles of road
bodied and side. ditched, and three or
four miles of fenco moved out of the
road. Mr.. Bush had great deal of
rock to contend with, which has run up
the costs considerably. There has been
expended on the Vinton roads between
four and five hundred dollars, including
overseer's salary, scraper plows picks,
shovels, dynamite, drills, &c. Several
small bridges have also been built.
"Mr. Bush reports 100 per cent. of the
two days road tax has been paid in
work and fines; this does not include
the town of Vinton, whore it just the
reverse. People who travel the Vinton
roads say they are in better condition
now than they have boon since the war.
MIR. ii. j. Dent, of Big Lick precinct,
reports fifteen miles of road bedded and
AN6 vi lGuC0 moved,
with about twenty-five or thirty yet to
move; he has built several bridges. In
Guiding his salary there has been spent
on his road about 5000. He has about
fifty miles of road to work, all of which
have received his attention, and some of
it has been worked twice during the
year.
''phe roads in Big Lick precinct are in
4 fair condition.
"Mr. Ellington, of Ballahack, reports
his roads in good fix for mountain
roads; he has about thirty miles of road
under his charge; has spent about $3.50
or 5000, including his salary.
There are about 100 miles of public
roads in Big Li,k district and nearly
all has been worked, and about SO, 900
have been spent; and taking the condi-
ton OF the roads into consideration, /
think thore has been great deal done
and great improvement at very small
cost. In some places the roads had
been worn away by washing until they
had to be filled from two to six feet be-
fore side bitches could be made, and
half the money next year will make
more show than the $4,000 spent this
year; and besides, these roads are
equipped with the necessary IMPLEMENTS
for this years work"