Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-05-11
ROADS, R0ADsl
The Costly Policy of no Roads and I'M
passable Roads "A Practical Sugges-
tion to the County Commissioners by
a tax Payer.

tax Payer.
To the Editor of The New DOMINION
The enormous iniquity which this
county is now suffering from the con-
dition OF its public roads can hardly
be appreciated by the county commits
sioners; or, otherwise, it seems to the
writer, they would be sitting ca
that question IN continuous session
till remedy was found.
Take for example the population Of
Battelle District. They have not
been able to get to the county seat
for the last seven months. They are
just emerging from their winner isola-
tion, but can hardly get here now. Is
it any wonder that that section Of the
county is seriously considering the
question OF separating from the coun-
ty, and will probably vote for it If
they get chancer
Take, as another example, the con-
dition OF the population of Clinton
District. They have no road at all,
except the railroad by which to reach
the Court House. This is not fairy
tale, it is plain, prosey fact Here
are two populous sections of the coun-
ty one of which cannot reach the
Coult House by reason of the condi-
tions, and the other has no road at all
to the Court House,
Does not this sound like a primi-
tive statement to relate Of one of tn e
oldest and most populous counties of
the state?
At the next meeting of the county
court, it is announced that the matter
of opening a road to Clinton District
will be taken up The proposition to
be considered is new road on top OF
the cliff running parallel with the
river. We have heard it stated by
men of good judgment, that road
over that hill would not only be next
to impracticable to make, but would
cost an annual fortune to maintain
We have heard the cost of opening
the road In the first instance, estimat-
ed at SIS, 900.
Now, the writer has no job in this
proposed road, and does not live in
Clinton District, or have any interest
in the matter other than tax payer
and a citizen seeking the welfare of
the county, and from this point he
desires to suggest to the county COM
missieuers, that no road whatever
should be attempted on the East side
OF the river. There is no road between
Cobun's creek and Ellington. There
is no population between these two
points. The only use for road is to
give the population from Ellington
and above an outlet to their county
seat.
We submit therefore that the place for
this road as on the West side Of the Ritter,
where there is a good broad bottom,
and a good grade all the way down to
The suspension bridge al Morgantown.
The river could be bridged at Ufing-
ton at less cost than road could be
opened over the cliff on the East side;
and the whole cost of making the
road on the West side, including the
bridge at Ellington, would be far less.
and both as an original proposition,
and for maintenance, would be a saw
ing of large sum to the county, as
against the proposed road over the
cliff on the East side. Besides it
would serve quite large population
on the West side that need the road,
and would tend TO build up that coun-
try which is susceptible Of develop
ment while the East side is not.
We hope the commissioners, will
therefore not make the mistake Of try
ing to open costly road on the East
side. TAX PAYER.