Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-03-26
MOUNT AIRY.

News of interest is scarce. We are always
glad to get the COURIER, as of late it has
been giving news from all over the county.
We were sorry to see our friend, Mr.. Price,
take up his pen against the bridge problem.
We had hoped such as he would have seen
the matter in a different light In the good
roads matter we see the necessity of that.
too, but what good would it do us ION the
east side of the river if our roads were even
better than they are, if we can only use
them as far as the river? While the condi-
ton of the roads was such rs to cause our
friend to lose few dollars on his wheat
crop. it perhaps was not any worse on him
than on people who live between Castle
mans and Berry's ferry who depended on
buying what -four they used from the stores
in their neighborboOd. After their supplies
gave out there was no way to replenish their
stock, roads in some sections along the
mountain became impossible ON account of
fallen timbers and mud; so those who were
not sufficiently well off 10 have bread stuff
on hand to last them found il very difficult
TO cross the mountain 10 get what they could
not do without Had the river been bridged
over at one place or the other, il would have
saved all this, as the mill wagons that sup
ply these places would have continued all
through the winter. We know, too, good
roads make a difference in the standing of "A
country, but if our genial land agent would
hear of a man who wanted a lovely home
on the east side of the Shenandoah. and
would start out To show him One-either his
brothers home or Mr.. Beidler's river farm
what could he tell him2 He might take
him on a big hill and explain the many
great conveniences that are TO be found on
his brothers farm, or how well il is supplied
with water, and so on, but to be candid with
you, my friend, he would say that If some
one should die while the river is "A little
muddy and full, and his last wishes were
that he should be laid to rest in Green HILL
Cemetery. Berryville Va, why, we would
have TO take his body TO Bluemont put it
on the cars, and shipit by way Of Alexandria
or Washington, to get Il where lac wished TO
rest. Now, we know there would be no
desire of the stranger TO get into hole like
this. Therefore the wisdom of the man in
buying the coffin should not have given
his wife any more trouble than this
We cannot see far ahead, but Mr.. Smith
need not think that the bridge question will
bury him, but we do beg Of him. should he
take up this SlOO,O road question, 20 not
put one cent of the tax on the east side OF
the river until it is thoroughly bridged, as
we can get no good Of railroads and lots OF
other things in the Valley. We could no,
stand that tax, along with the tax he fixed
on the dogs tail so fast that it is feared il
will be goodbye to many poor cur More
than that, the good weather for the past
week has done more for the good road.
| question than any amount of money car
do in so short a time. Travel has begun
again III earnest. And, as we thought wher
our able body of Supervisors were elected
by the people. they were empowered to us,
their own discretion in regard TO taxes, as il
would be a very hard matter to consult
every taxpayer in Clarke privately, other
wise they would not know how they felt
In view of town building up on the ToI
and increasing the amount of taxes for tn,
county, we cannot see why anything tina
would add so much to the good of the peopl,
as certain and sure way of crossing tn,
river when you get to il cannot be speedil,
acted upon, either by subscription or il
some other way, just so 1t Is done.
| Tom SCRATcHFR