Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-09-16
Berkeley County Roads.


western sections OF the Old Dominion
was internal improvements. People
living i'll the counties west of the
mountains claimed they were not fair
| ly treated in the distribution of funds
raised by taxation for roads and other
public works. That, in fact, was the
prime cause of the separation of the
State. The new State, born in the
in the throes Of civil strife and hav-
ing to provide necessary public build
ings, has as yet done but little in the
way of public improvements. In the
western portion we inherited the
Northwestern and Staunton pixies and
a portion of the National road. The
ravages of war left these roads in bad
condition and to-day they are not in
as good repair as they were prior to
! the war.
The Valley was more fortunate in
the matter of roads, and the counties
comprising the Eastern Panhandle,
being a portion OF the Valley possesses
the nucleus of what, in time, will cor
stitute a perfect road system. This is
especially true of Berkeley County.
We have some excellent graded and
nacadamized roads. The question
which now presents itself S. How c; n
our road system be perfected, and when
and at what cost can it be accomplish
ed? The chow is most readily an
swered. Nature has provided and
supplied us with an inexhaustible sup
ply of limestone Of the best possible
quality for matchmaking, and so dis
tributed it as to make it accessible to
all. 1t is everywhere-on the noun
tain top and in the valley All that
is necessary is to crush it and spread
it on the roads and the work is done.
But when can this be done? When
ever a road is graded the stone can
be supplied. In the valleys, so near
! ly level is the land there is no excuse
for heavy grades. 1t should be re-
membered that the load to be hauled
is gagged by the amount that can be
carried over the worst place--heavi-
est grade in the road. This fact should
be the one prominently before an en-
gineer in surveying a route for new
road, and the County Court should
absolutely refuse to establish a road,
any portion of which has a maximum
grade of more than five degrees. Bet
ter go around the rim Of a kettle than
over the bail Many old roads can be
greatly improved by cutting a small
amount off the top of all elevation and
using the earth to ell the depression
below. This is scarcely ever done.
Again, road surveyors should be the
most intelligent men in the commun-
ity. They should understand the sci
ence of drainage, and know how 10
construct ditch and where to place
culvert or bridge
Now as to the cost. The usual
price paid for broken stone is IS cents
per perch. That is hand broken stone.
By means of crusher, stone can be
put on the roads for 40 cents per
perch. which is but little more than
the cost of moving earth. Farmers
are always ready and willing to assist
i'll any enterprise that will get them
out of the mud Mud is one thing the
intelligent, enterprising farmer abhors
and the Berkeley farmer above all
others, as mud in the Valley is the
nastiest, stickiest stuff in the world.
Let the County Court buy two or
three stone crushers, put them in the
hands of competent men, invite the
farmers to assist, require, SO far pos
ible, that all heavy wagons shall have
tires at least three inches wide-four
is better-put the stone only on roads
of proper grade and the expenditure
well be repaid an hundred fold.