Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-12-02
rlonterey,V Va. Friday. Dec. z, 1910

Elsewhere in these columns we
refer to the fact that nearly a score
and half of passengers came by
automobile from Staunton on Sat-
urday last, and in the familiar
language of the patent medicine
advertisement we may add there's
a reason" Some of them had
waited for two or three days until
adequate auto service could be ar
ranged for, persistently urging and
waiting until such service was pro-
cured.
1t simply means that travel in
the old, tiresome, all-day style is a
thing of the past and that the peo-
pie who come and go are going to
avail themselves of the more mod
ern, comfortable and rapid means
of travel. On the day in question,
one car load of passengers lett
Staunton as late as four O'Clock and
reached Monterey soon a tie
dark, thus accomplishing in few
hours what formerly required the
entire day, and at a cost but little
in excess of the old method, to say
nothing of the added comfort. and
pleasure. The fact, that steps
have already been taken to meet
this demand and that plans are
now on foot to render ample SER
vice, especially during the summer
months, proves that enterprlslng
automobile people recognize the
changed and changing conditions,
and is corroborative of the claim
that we make. Our people have
waited long and wished much for
a railroad, but the most pleasing
prospect has, in every case, proved
to be forlorn hope. There may
be years of waiting yet-how many,
none can tell, and but little heed
would we likely give should
one try to tell-but while we wait,
certainly the presence of regular
and systematic service such as we
speak of is calculated to "soothe
our sorrows. :"
In communities where both
means of transportation are present,
a comparison of the two may APP
pear laughable or absurd, but to an
isolated section such as ours,
where the comparison is between
the automobile and a crowded
mail-hack with it's many stops and
jolts, the odds are more apparent,
and there ought not to be any wonder
that our people view it as a God
send, and a near approach to the
railroad we have so long looked for
but never got.
The point we are coming to, and
the all-important one, is this; Do
our road authorities take a similar
view of the situation and realize
that it imposes new duties on them
and gives them present-day prob
lens to solve in the way of road
Improvement and building? The
question of improvement is the one
which confronts us now, and 1T
does not necessarily involve bond
issues and the extravigant forward
steps taken by many counties. The
employment of a more satisfactory
system, the use of more permanent
material and better application
of the road funds are features that
appeal to our county officials, and,
when properly solved, will bring
about such an improvement as will,
for a time at least, satisfy clamor
which is not only just, but most
timely and important.
When considered from all view
points there is nothing selfish or
unreasonable in the appeal which
comes as a result of the introduce
ton of the horseless carriage. Every
step taken to encourage their use
and invite their owners into the
county tends to favor and benefit
the taxpayer as well, for, no mat
ter how he may travel, there will
be a saving of time, of horse-fesh,
of vehicles, and all the discomfort
of the road will be minimized.
Thus the effort of the public SER
want, who, if faithful, strives for
the greatest good to the greatest
is more nearly accomplish
ed than in any course he can pur-
sue.