Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-03-16
More About Macadam Roads for
ROckbridge
RocKBR1DaE BATHS. March 10,

RoCKBRIDGE BATHS, March 10.
EDITOR GAZETTE l am glad to
see that there is interest being mani
tested in the improvement of our
public roads by some ofyour cores
pondents, aid il the subject can be
aRitated until it takes a tangible
form we may hope to see the time
when the success or failure Of Santos
Dumont's schemes for aerial naviga-
ton will be Of small moment to the
rural population of Rock bridge coun
ty.
While it may not be necessary to
macadamize all the cross. roads and
cow-paths in the county,it is not only
necessary but practicable to mac.
adamize the main lines Of roads and
and at the same time improve the
condition Of the crossroads 30 as to
make them passable.
While the taxpayers Of Rockbridge
county have paid the enormous sum
OF one million dollars to a railroad I
corporation and for other improve
ments for which she is but little bet
ter of financially, it seems to me that
there should be no reason for not
improving our public roads when it
will be not only a luxury but direct
Financial benefit. Should the coun.
ty issue bonds for say five hundred
Thousand dollars, which bonds could
be hoated at not over five per cent.
interest for road improvements. be-
lieve the increased value Of the
taxable property lying along and
adjacent to the said lines OF road
would almost If not altogether be
sufficient to meet the bonds without
any material increase in the rate OF
taxation. But even II the rate OF ,,
taxation for road purposes were
doubled there is no reason why the
work should not be done, as theJA
money would be spent -iin-our own !,
county and tofour own benefit and .
u would be practically that much I
added to the money Gil culatlon in the
county.
have talked to great many people
on the subject of road improvement T
during the past year or two and \
have rarely found person who c
wouh oppose 1t il it were put before 2
he people to be voted upon. The l,
aboring class see in it a chance of :,
at better wages while B
he work is being done, and while
much OF it may be done with convict
abor IA strict enforcement of the r.
'agrant law might help considerably S.
n the matter), still there would be G.
nuch work that would have to be n n
one by honest labor And the s.
arlners and travelling public would -
e amply repaid in the saving OF their
cams and in the luxury Of travelling -
yer firm, smooth roads. to say moth
lg of the profanity that is some
mes used while laundering through &
lud and mire, the evil of which is n
OF to be computed in dollars and
snts.
Think Of the people giving five
undred and twenty-five thousand ,
pillars to a railroad corporation to
lild railroad and their own roads
e such that for about one half the
Ear the majority Of the people can
1T get to the railroad SO let US get wi
1T Of the old ruts in which we have
zen travelling so long and Try to bet
our condition by building roads
at will be blessing to oursel yes az w,
Eli as to our prosperity. J"
Or course the work can not all be
me at once, but we can begin fixing
e worst places first so as to make
elm passable and then keep on er.
nding the work as fast as it can DO
ne until we have a system OF roads
ut Will be a joy forever Then as
our crossroads let us stop the
dish practice Of running over them
such haste and leaving places that
well nigh impasssb BILE, saying, hi,
We haven't time to fix this place
Is time, as it will take too much are
rk;' then we hurry on to find a tba
ice that seldom, il ever, gets bad, ho.
d there pile loose dirt Oh it so
1t it will make mud hole when it We
ms, thus making good road bad l.
frequently see this done by to
road overseers and il cor,
gays reminds me Of children max A.
mud pies. :.
We live in aprogressive age and the Va" =,
rit OF the times demands that our ylel
bic money should be judiciously is S
d in permanent Improvement in. wha
I'd of being Unfortunately wasted Ohio,
IS now the case. So keep the ball Vt
ing now that is started, until the
ord OF Supervisors take some T
on in regard to it,
PHIL LosOPHER. are