Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-02-09
Action of Road Board.

To all whom it may concern:
The board of road commissioners
j. Beverly Manor District, Augusta cou
ty, beg leave to make the fo!lowi
statement liz regard to cutting do1
and grading the hill at ''Dry Bridg
near Hebron Church.
In the first place we wish to say, til
: it is not in consideration of the deSig
D ing party or parties who manufactu
ed and circulated certain reports I
fiecting on us that we make this stat
ment, but for the benefit of those wi
may be deceived by such reports.
1t has been represented to the Jude
of the county court, that the roa
board paid the contractor one hundre
and ten dollars, the full amount agree
on for cutting the one hill, before th
work was completed. This is not trut
the facts are that he has received bu
fifty dollars in all, and this was paid i
accordance with agreement, that tn
work should be paid for from time t
time as it progressed.
At the expilati of the stipulated
time the contract was taken from hlu
and has since been completed for tn,
remaining sixty dollars,
Now, having stated the facts in tn,
case, we say further, that, had it no
been for certain articles written by
some indiscreet correspondent, reflect
ing ridicule and discredit upon the
contractor at a time when he should
have been encouraged, when he need.
ed hands to push his work, we believe
the work would have progressed
much faster, and that the one hill, at
least, would have been finished long
before this time.
Why it was done and by whom the
report was circulated, we know not,
nor do we care to kno ", and will only
add, that, had the originator been &C.
tuated by motives of fairness and JUS
tice; he could easily have ascertained
the full amount paid by referring to
the commissioner book OF the county
clerks Office, OF by consulting the war
rants at the county treasurer office.
These show all money paid out by the
road board and for what purpose paid.
We believe this statement is sufi-
;ient for fair thinking people and it is
or the benefit of such that it is made,
Respectfully,
THE ROAD BOARD.
The above ''card" appeared in the
SPECTATOR about two weeks ago, and
n reply to the same the undersigned
reg leave to say:
l. That the Road Board" of Bev-
rly Manor district is evidently trying
o shift to the shoulders of others the
esponsibility of their Encouragement |
f the work in cutting down and |
rading the hill spoken of above.
2. The strange part about this card
, that no reference whatever is made
o petition signed by rs citizens to
be judge Of the Augusta county court
/ regard to this work, but only to Ger
ain reports" 1t may be that the
Board" did not wish the public to
now of this petition, but the facts
re as follows: After weeks of long
lffering on the part of patient COM
lunity, the citizens finally became
at the manner in which
lis work was being done, and signed
petition to the judge of the county
ourt, setting forth their grievances
I'D humbly begging for some relief
ON the great inconvenience to which
ley had, for weeks. been subjected.
here were no reports manufactured
nd circulated" rejecting on the
GARD. None whatever. but there was
direct charge of negligence brought
yainst them by this petition. The
stition was respectfully presented to
lie judge, but for reasons unknown 1t
as simply ignored.
3. With regard to this petition we
mark, that it has come to a pretty
ASS when a number of reputable citi-
ms cannot take steps to rebuke neg
yence in their public servants land
lch all county officials are) without
eing charged with some sinister de-
gn.
4. This petition to the judge did
ot state that $11O had been paid to
e contractor, as is stated In the
card" The petitioners knew well
Tough where the facts could be got
N at. There was, however, report
lat 500 had been so paid, and this re.
ort started from the lips of one of the
GARD, who told one of the undersign-
l, that this was the case! If that
ember of the Board knew better he
lould have said'so.
5. The ''card" above states that tat
le expiration of the stipulated time
e contract was taken from him, &C."
ow the truth is there was no rstipu.
ted time mentioned in the original
,ntract, but the man was left to fin
b at his will, and it was only after
ublic Indignation became so strong
lat the Board fore ed him to give up
10 contract.
6. To say, as the card" does, that
le delay in cutting down and grading
lis hill, was, in any way, due to GER
in newspaper articles, poking fun at
le wheelbarrow process of doing this
ork, is supremacy childish. The Board
ust feel itself in tight place to
lake use of such a subterfuge. The
IN made of it at the time through the
)Iumns of the SPECTATOR, was Sim
ly reflection of the sentiment of the
hole community, and the ridicule
ast upon it was not intended for the
ian who was engaged in the work, but
II our honored Road Board" for
aking such silly contract.
I. So much for the ''card''' from the
Road Board" Now word as to the
etition presented to the judge. The
Undersigned fatter themselves that
ley have generally been regarded as
tizens of at least average intelli.