Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-09-23
BRIDGES ana Cu1verts Require
Protection from Engines
KEKR's CREEK, Sept. 10, 'Os


KRKR's CREEK, Sept. 10, 'OS
EDITOR GAZETTE I'm your last
issue appeared the letter
Of Mr.. J. O. Greever criticising
the Board of Supervisors Of Rock
bridge for passing and enforcing
an ordinance for the protection OF
bridges and culverts.
The manner in which Mr'Grsev-
er states the case is unfair to the
Board of Supervisors. The "board
ordinance is not intended as Mr..
Greeyer thinks to strengthen the
crlyert or bridge, although 1t does
do this to some extent, but to keep
the large cogs in the engine wheel
from splitting the culvert or bridge
plank. This is the primary pur:
nose of the portable board, OF
which Mr.. Greever, makes sucn
bitter complaint. =,
To begin with, every citizen OF
Rockbridge county who mas travel
ed over the county knows that the
traction engines in the same length
of time has done more to destroy
the culverts and bridges OF county
roads than all other travel COM
bined. If there is a single board
in the bridge that has the slightest
defect the cog of the engine wheel
will find it and is sure to burst the
plank; the bridge or culvert may
be a perfectly new structure and
the yery first heavy traction engine
that goes over it will burst a
board. Now what is to be done,
for the protection Of the public
No bridge or culvert is safe for
crossing with horses that have
even one broken place in it.
The Board of Supervisors OF
Rockbridge are known TO the pub
lie as q level headed business get
of men, and do not need my zen
TO defend them, but as your writer
was one of the very first persons
In the county to advocate such an
ordinance he therefore comes to
the rescue.
The plea that Wherever makes
for the threshing man about the
sunshine and the heat of the day
lie a maudling sentiment, and
should never be used in the settle
ment of business transactions. The
sun shines on all people who work
out doors, and every laborlng mar
has his burden to bear, be ne
tbresher or not. Threshing mer
are treated kindly by their neigh
bors and patrons. and he and Mi
outfit get the very best of every
thing that the country affords
and also get a very muoh large
return for their labor in threshint
the crop than the farmer does 10
sowing and reaping.
The Board of Supervisors O
Rockbridge in passing and enforc
ing this ordinance against Traction
engines. has done nothing NOR
than what the police and fisca
authorities of other States hav'
had to do. An ordinance almos
identical to the one adopted b.
the Rockbridge Board has been II
; force in the adjacent West Virgin
ia counties for a dozen or mor'
, years. and the people of thos
counties have never seen any geo.
reason why the order should b
recinded; but on the other hand
the order stands wherever q tract
r ion engine runs.
, County roads and bridges ar
public utilities that should b
treated by all people with the III
: most care 80 as to protect and pre-
v serve them. The condition OF tn
public roads and bridges in an
community is one of the cures
signs of the thrift or thrlftles'
y ness OF the people of that CON
II munity. And when an intelliget
e stranger passes thu ough that con
>. munity he does not hsve to sto
f to inquire how the people i've
" In conclusion, not withstandin
Is the sure propbesies of Mr.. Gree
4 or. gentlemen of the board, stan
is by, your guns and don't recin
, ronr ordar TAY- PAYER.