Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-03-12
Good Roads.

EDITOR REGISTER AZ The idSl lar III
ers' institute resolutions were passed
advocating matchmaking the county
roads, ard there is very strong senti-
ment throughout the county favoring
the same. But there is a difference OF
opinion how to accomplish 1t. Some
advocate the issuing of bonds and have
the good roads Immediately; othersop-
pose it with the argument that we al
ready have big debt to carry and no
way in sight to pay it but taxation; and
there is feeling of distrust in the
handling Of this money, fear that the
roads would not get all-that contrac-
tors always bid to make money and
slight the Job when they can. But the
fact remains that the people OF the
county want better roads, as evidenced
by every farmers meeting held the last
FIVE years. and that a large majority OF
the citizens Of the county are willing TO
be taxed reasonably if they were certain
that the money would be properly eX-
pended. We have the material almost
everywhere to make the best roads IN
the world, and when repairs are needed
the material still at hand. lis true the
roads IN the county have been greatly
improved in the last few years, but the
supervisors are compelled TO use old
methods and not required TO follow any
particular system. The results are not
quite what they should be. | don't
think the county ought to issue bonds
for the purpose, for reasons already Civ
en-, but instead pay as we go. II the
bills recommended by the Tax Commits
sion and the Governor TO equaliZe taxa
ton would pass, and not be doctored to
death, we could pike all the roads in
the county and not increase taxes, but
we believe in making a beginning with
out waiting for something to turn up.
1t is almost impossible 10 make first
class road without the proper imple-
ments. With the best crushed stone
put on and left for wagons to pack, 1t
will soon be uneven and in ruts but
with modern machinery you pack the
material and ii is solid and lmperVlous
TO water before you leave it. Its cheap
or In the end to make this kind OF road
than any other macadam road. There
is not first-class road in the county
except the Shepherd pike. Usage MADE
them all uneven before they became SOL
id, consequently they are not drained.
And our mode of repair is eXtravigant.
We break stone after fashion and leave
the wagons to do the rest. Which is
the cheaper, to make them fine with
machine intended for the purpose or
rack your buggieS or wagons TO do IL
The next term Of the county court is
the fiscal term and the proper time to
act if anything is to be done in the year.
| would suggest the following: In
crease the levy 10 cents; it is now about
10 cents and this will make it % cents
on the 800 for the district, and the
county buy say three stone crushers
and three traction road rollers, geared
to run the crushers and move them, also
to roll the material. If they think that
three is too strong, try one to start with.
But in any case you want the roller.
You can't make good job without 1T,
and as each subdistrict gets it's own APP
portionment, which is right, as all pay
taxes and none would be satisfied TO
take their road money to some other
section, let each supervisor prepare the
ri, ce of road he intends to build by the
direction of an expert, and have 1t so
thorough in all respects that no fault
could be found with it. | believe this
will give general satisfaction. You will
never get the citizens Of Jefferson cOun-
ty to agree TO macadam certain main
roads. All do not live on these main
roads, and they argue that they would
have to wait too long. And again, after
certain roads were piked they might
change their minds and other roads be
left unimproved. In the aggregate we
could build from eight TO ten miles ev-
cry year, and for few years most all
the levy could be put on in new work
and in repairing the pixies now in the
county. 1t will not do to let them 90
down, but to make them better than
they are should be the aim.
1t is not necessary in this Article to
specify how to prepare the roads for the
Improvement or the shape, width and
thickness of the same That is an af-
ter matter. ! believe that if the work is
carefully looked after and the money
economically spent there will be nc
complaint. We need no new laws to
make good roads-the laws we have are
sufficient All we want is the money
and machinery.
The question will be asked, how much
stone will it take to pike mile From
| 400 to 1000 perches, in the rough or
as taken from the quarries, depending
on width, depth, &C. After stone are
crushed the amount is increased by
about one-third. The cost Of maintain
ing a first-class road is small. One man
can attend to at least ten miles II
crushed material is kept on hand and at
convenient distances so he can haul
either way.
Now, Mr.. Editor, il this road problem
is carefully studied by those who have
to foot the bills, think they will come
to the conclusion that it is about time
to quit the old way entirely-we have
only half quit-and begin the new.
CITIZEN.