The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-04-17
HAMPDEN-SIDNEY, VA, !
April, ID, 1902. !

nOte also Wuat yOu say WIN iN
ference to a bill authorizing the people
Of Prince Edward to vote on the ques-
ton Of issuing bonds for road purposes.
This is one OF the matters that | have
always been deeply interested in, and
long ago suggested to the people plan
with that object in view. | am glad to
see you take an interest in the matter
and | would suggest that you talk it ny
and see # you cannot get some action
from a mass meeting Of the citizens
your representative in the
Legislature to offer a bill looking to
that end. There is no doubt in my
mind that the very best Investment the
county could make for years to come
would be the improvement Of its pub
lie highways"
Yours very truly,
A. ID. WATKINS.
Our member Of the lower house, Mr.
]. J. Owen writes:
81 am entirely in accord with your
views in regard to road building In
Prince Edwrad, aud have 50 expressed
myself through the local press"
We cannot prosper as a State or
county until we improve our schools
and our roads. This should be burn
ing question with our people until 1t Is
No one that | have APP
preached has refused to sign the Pc
ton. | have been able to see but q few
on this matter and think 1t should be
widely discussed. One prominent man
In this district objects to the amount
asked for as too small. Mr.. VIM. Hen
derson and Mr.. Jno. Morton, OF this
district, aud Mr. Ed. Taylor, OF Pros
pect, think money expended In road
building the best investment the
county can make. There seems to be
no apprehension on the part OF any tc
whom / have spoken as to the ability
to nav for roads. Some express it diff
ferently that we cannot afford the heavy
tax that the mud now puts upon us.
Now will you please help push this
matter along, 80 that we may get
suitable bill passed this spring, IN order
that we may begin building early in
1904? Yours very truly,
w. NJ. HOLIDAY.
The seven miles Of macadam road be
tween Hampden-Sidney and Farmville
have been of such great benefit to it'
users during the bad weather that 1t is
i'm itself, a most convincing proof that
system Of macadam roads extending
over the main public highways OF the
county, and leading to our chic
market, would greatly add to the pros
perity of our people. This macadan
road saves time, requires fewer horses
to pull loaded vehicles. enables tbs
farmers to carry at least double as much
weight with the same team as can b'
pulled over a mud road, and keeps the
highway open every day in the year
Many Of the farmers that live beyond
this macadam road hitch four horses L
a loaded wagon, haul the load to HamI'
den-Sidney; send two Of the horses bach
home. and haul the load over thu
macadam road to Farmville will
two horses and with greater ease
The use Of extra horses and a man o.
bow 10 take them back home, the YEA
and tear on the wagon aud team, and
the time lost-these are taxes paid by
our people to Mud year after year. Tit
testimony Of w. & Dunkum, who runs
a hack line and carries the mail be-
tween Hampden-Sidney and Farm
Vile, is the testimony Of all who hav'
seen the difference between mud road
and macadam roads. He says: "Be
fore we had the macadam, l never useC
less than two horses, and often had Z
use four, to get my hack over the road
The road was too bad In wet weather Y
allow tue use Of small vehicle, an(
nv hack was often broken and needed
almost constant repair. Now | use 8
light one.horse vehicle, except OF
special occasions, make better time
haul more passengers, aud rarely have
a broken vehicle. One horse now doe
more work each day with much les
strain on him than two horses did owe
the mud roads"
Our people can have no growing anC
lasting prosperity without good roads
and the earth roads cannot, on accoun
of the nature Of our soil, be made nj 10
winter weather. The horrible condition
of the roads in winter weather can b
remedied only by building surface $
firm that mud cannot be formed. II
tinker with mud is to waste time AM
money. Common sense dictates tina
we tax ourselves to get out OF the mu'
and not continue TO tax ourselves U
stay in il. a. we are now doing. IN
tax now paid in time wasted, In wea
and tear on vehicles, and In extri
teams, will, IL turned into none,
and added to the road tax now PAID
macadamize every mile OF public high
way in the county.
The undersigned, citizens Of Prime
Edward county, are convinced that tn
time has come for general system Q
permanent improvement OF our publ
highways, covering every section OF tn
county and leading to our chief market
We, therefore, declare ourselves inIiavo
of a system Of macadam roads, built II
a thorough aud permanent manner, ex
tending through every township 10 th
county, and covering IS to 100 miles Q
highway in the next five years. TIL
system should provide for %, Parable
macadam and earth roads, in order t
save the macadam roads and vehicle
in good weather, as 1t is well know
that macadam roads are ruined by us
in good weather and benefited by US
in bad weather, while earth roads ar
ruined by Use ia bad weather and bene
fitted by use in good weather. (2), Th
ownership by the county Of a roc
crusher and steam roller; l3l, The sci
vices Of an experienced road engineer
to map out the proper grading OF 20