Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-11-15
ECONOMICAL HINTS.
Home Talent, Properly Directed
Might Reduce the Expenses of
Good Road Building

Might Reduce the Expenses of
Good Road Building
All this expense in building i'm
proved roads, l claim, can be borne
mostly by the people living on the
highways, if a suitab BILE law were en-
acted, with certain rules and regula-
tions properly enforced by compe-
tent overseer or commits sioner OF
every town, who should see that the
work to be done is done at a certain
time-frst, the grading in the fall
or early spring by the inhabitants,
preparing it for the stone crushed
during the winter by some man who
owns a traction engine. This stone
is to be delivered at certain point
convenient for crushing and central,
taken off from the farms and roads,
thus cleaning the roads of all loose
stone and the farms also. When not
to be had from farms, then from
quarries, already crushed, or taken
whole and crushed at point which
said commissioner may name. Then,
as the time comes for the stone to
be put on the turnpike or grading,
all who are liable for highway tax
are, by teams and men, to place
certain amount on the grading, thus
working out their tax in this way.
The said commissioner shall have
the power to build so many miles
each year, apportioning the amount
of work to the value of land as taken
from the assessment rolls, as well as
demanding from every man who does
not own lands a certain number of
days for highway purposes. You will
see by this means the towns owning
their own crusher and road leveling
| machine, the matter of road building
| could be done by the inha bitants. As
| to matters of stone drawing, every
one should be allowed per perch or
| yard stipulated sum for the same,
it being credited as part of the tax.
Also the crushing should be done by
some man who owns threshing en-
CINE, thus helping thresher men in
their maintaining and pay of ma
chimes and families.
To aid this idea of building roads
by the people the state may pay out
of an appropriation certain amount
a mile, which would do much toward
encouraging the people in carrying
out the modified way of accomplish
ing the desired result. This idea
must be in the form Of law that has
force in it, making it compulsory to
ia certain extent in building certain
number of miles each year in each
town. It may seem too much to do
especially to farmers, but when
know that a district can turnpike
with plows and scrapers mile (ordi.
narily fair to begin with) in three OF
four days, see no reason why we
cannot have fair to good roads in a
few years without imposing such
large sums as are now asked, which
are simply enormous, and only few
roads can be built by the extrava'
CANT proposals now before the peo
pie. :.
Many a farmer and owner would
readily deliver stone on roads to bt
crushed on the grading prepared. II
spring, before the ground gets too
dry, If he can see that It is to be cred
tied to him, under the law governing
roads, which must be special, not only
| for farmers, but for all living on Of
owning property in any district
Men who are only subject to poll tai
could build culverts or suice ways
when not too large-this at the dis
cretion of said commissioner. Thl
is simply an outline for road building
In the most economical way, and b.
putting up a good turnpike and
moderate quantity of broken ston'
the first year, an added one next, ant
so on each year, the roads can b.
kept in fine order If only on
: layer or track is put on the first yea
and more added the next.
This work should be done on part
of roads where most needed the frs
year. as said commissioner may In hi
; Judgment think best. The act SHOULD
rive the commissioner power to con
7 struct and build or make such grad
ings as will level up and make sue
HIGHWAYS as means in his power vii
admit. In case the commissions
should unreasonably attempt to
much in any one year and complain
be entered against extravagance, sue
may be adjudged by the supervisor
and one OF two of the most reha 81
men of the town. By this mode
believe roads can be built at an aver
!, age not over $500 a mile after tn
: Rrst year, the towns owning thel
+ own road machines and these bein
, In charge of said commissioner as
storage and repairs; or he may COZ
tract for such work with reliabl
parties, they owning their own ma
chimes, and doing part OF the whole
As to material, uncrushed stone Q
gravel must be put in. All materla
must be broken to a cons1stenc.
The roads should not be less than wv
feet above the sidings, and once pu
No to this height and some ston
(broken) put on each year, the e,
pense of keeping the same would
e very light. You see, the 5000 a mil
. is mostly paid by the occupants o
e The road, with what state aid Nigh
be given, which would, however, ;
ioht compared with the proposal