The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-04-17
WoRsHAM, Va, NH. 20, 'O2.
DIR. w. M HOLIDAY,
Hamnden-Sidney. Va.


My DEAR SIR:-If you can secure
the names Of twenty OF thirty promi-
nent property holders representing all
sections Of the county, | see no reason
why bill can not be passed In the
Legislature giving the people a chance
to say whether or not they wish to
macadamize the roads.
The outline enclosed gives a margin
of cost that runs all the way from
$3.50 900 for IS miles to 100000 for 100
miles; or, to put it another way, leaves
a margin Of cost ranging from 81 ,l65 a
mile TO s., 900 q mile. This is a matter
that should be left open for the present,
| think. Some Of our people think
that the roads, II properly macadamiz-
ed, will cost aOout 5000 mile, which
of course includes grading and bridging
where necessary. Others think 81 800
will cover IT. Others think 81, 1000 a
mile is sufficient, as they claim that
many places in the highways do not
need macadamizing. | am OF the
opinion that the plan TO macadamize
the highways sin spots" is great mis-
take. | have been unable to locate
those numerous SANDY places" that
one hears so much about. For ex-
ample, between Hampden-Sidney and
County Line there is not a mile, all
told, OF such places, when such spells
of weather occur as the spell we have
lust passed through. Ii Is forgotten by
the advocates OF this patchwork
maeadam that when the macadam
roads are built the travel over them Is
increased two or three.fold, and that
the salvation of the sandy spot is in its
not being used.
However, the outline suggested for a
bill leaves these points for the Board of
Supervisors and the five members of
the Road Commission TO decide jointly.
Surely the funds and the best interests
of the people will be safe in the hands
of this Joint body. The plan outlined
for the Road Commission is that these
gentlemen shall serve without pay,
thus making the position one OF honor
and patriotism, and doing away with
any great desire to lobby for the Job. -
IL a sufficient number Of signatures
can be secured aud the Representatives
in the General Assembly consent to in
troduce bill In accord with the out
line uggested-which | believe is the
plan YOU suggested-the bill ought TO be
drawn with great care. feel sure that
this will be done. The enclosed letter
from Judge Watkins shows his position
on the subject. Kindly preserve this
letter for me.
al think Mr.. Ewing's plan, that the
matchmaking should be done so as TO
give the people Of the county, in every
section. good road over which they
NAV travel to and from Farmville, Is
the correct one. Our market for to-
bacco Jour chief crop is Farmville, and
IL will be decidedly to the advantage Of
the people If this plan is followed out
as far as may be reasonable. The adj
vantage Of the bond issue is that Farm
VILE will have to pay her part Of the in
terest and be assessed for the benefit of
the county roads. This 10 right. Farm
willie would benefit immensely by such
a system of roads. Her position as a
market would be unrivalled in this en-
tire section, and her trade would
double in five years. She would there
fore do her share Of the road building"
wish to utter a note Of warning in
regard 10 this matter Of road building
in Prince Edward, and Farmvllle, as a
market: Charlotte county has decided
to purchase a rock crusher with view
10 building macadam roads. or course
the first road built will be the one lead
ING from Charlotte Courthouse to
brakes Branch; and then the other
roads i'm the county leading 10 brakes
will be macadamized. II the roads
leading from the Prince Edward line
TO brakes Branch are macadamized
and our roads are not macadamized to
Farmville, It will be goodbye to pros
perity in this section, and one OF the
hardest blows that Farmville has ever
received. Brakes Branch would soon
be selling as much tobacco as Farmville
and that increase would be taken from
Farmvllle.
Very sincerely yours,
]. ID. EGGLEsTON, in.