Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-02-04
A Step Backwards.

4 bill has been introduced into the
House of Delegates by Mr.. ID. NJ
Switzer. Of Rockingham, to release ana
transfer to the counties OF Augusta
Rockingham, Shenandoah and Freder-
lex the interest Of the Commonwealth
in the Valley Turnpike road.
At first glance. this measure might
strike the casual reader favorably. The
stue OF Virginia would thus make a
present to the counties Of three-fifths OF
the stock in this great road which WAS
constructed nearly sixty years ago ana
is to-day the finest road in the State
aud before its travel was reduced by
parallel lines of RAILROAD, was consider
ed the finest i'm the United States.
The road is now managed by Board
of Directors composed of intelligent
farmers living along the line Of road.
1t has been well kept up.
While we have thought that in some
instances the management. made mis-
takes or charged more toll than actual
ly necessary, we are not prepared 10
substantiate the charge.
If turned over to the counties the
Boards OF Supervisors would take
charge. They could continue it as
roll road when those who would use it
would be compelled to pay the cost Of
keeping it up, or it could be made a free
road. and the Boards could keep it up
bv increasing the county taxes. An
argument used i'm Rockingham Is that
there are so many more bridges in
Shenandoah than i'm Rockingham, that
II becomes necessary to spend the Toll
collected I'M Rockingham TO build bridges
i'm Shenandoah, and rather than do this
they would see the road 90 back TO the
average condition OF county roads.
Few roads. turnqkes or railroads.
one hundred miles i'm length, have ever
been bullion which some sections were
not more costly than others to build and
keep up, but thisis the first time we
have heard that fact advocated a. rea-
son why the whole road should be de-
sIroyed.
We are decidedly opposed to the
measure for several reasons.
If Boards Of Supervisors i'm Virginia
have secured for themselves an envie-
Bile reputation a, road builders, we Lave
never been informed of the fact They
have been honestin their efforts to Sc
cure good roads for their respective
counties. but I'm how many eases have
they succeeded: They nave more roads
'now than they can take care OF and we
do not believe they are in position to
take as good care Of the Valley Turn
pike a. does the Board which now has II
in charge.
The road is now i'm good condition.
well kept up and self sustaining.
SO long asit It's managed a now we
are sure Of good road. Let the
management be changed and there is
considerable doubt about the road being
kept up.
While we have had but limited OPP
portunity to consult our people, we are
of the opinion that they are decidedly
opposed to any such change. and we
hope that the progressive representatives
of Augusta, Frederick and Shenandoah
will keep Mr.. Switzer from doing the
Valley counties the great injury which
he proposes. New representatives
sometimes arc willing to champion
measures which more experienced
politicians would not touch. Is not
this one Of the cases:
Our Bsars OF Supervisors is composed
Of careful, practical, business men. We
DO not believe that they would be will
ling to accept the new change. In that
case, il the bill OF Mr.. Switzer should
pass, one county might accept it and
three refuse it, in which case We would
have mixed management, and we
therefore earnestly hope that the Leg
islatur- will prevent any such condition
Of affairs.
Sound Money in Chicago.