The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-06-08
BETHEL'S STATE HIGHWAY.
Written For The Fulton County News
by Thomas K. DOwneS Of Belfast
Township.

schools IN which their children
should receive an education, was
of greater Importance to them
than the improvement of then
public highways. Good roads
would cheaper the cost of mar
ketlng their produce, would add
to the value of their farms, would
add to their comfort in travel,
and would show to the outside
world that Bethel township pos
sessed a class of citizens that
were progressive; and, that in
turn, would attract other pro.
gressive men who might be look.
ing for community IN which to
locate; for no progressive man
will ouy farm a1d settle down
IN a community composed OF hide
bound mossbacks-not If he
knows it.
Well, when the Commissioners
of Washington county Maryland
showed their public spirit IN the
making of a State Highway from
Hancock to the Bethel township
line, the Bethel township people
SAID, "Why should not the road
be extended through our town.
ship?" and application was made
to the County Commissioners of
Fulton County for the County's
share of the expense; but to the
everlasting shame OF those Off.
GERS, they refused. Not to be
defeated IN their purpose to have
better roads, an election was
held and a majority of the voters
CT the district said, eve will
build the road independently of
the help of the County. And
they have done it.
The road which is now about
completed from the Maryland
line through the village of War.
fordsburg and extending to
Stigers's mill, Is a monument
that will perpetuate the memory
of the faithful men through
whose efforts the road was made
possible, long after the small
calibred commissioners shall have
been forgotten. The work on
the construction of this road was
begun IN the summer of 1909,
the contract having been gwen to
Samuel Stoutfer, of Sharpsburg,
Md. A force of eightY.five men
were employed to start with,
and from thlrty-tve to eighty five
men were employed much of the
time until It's completion. The |
foreman of construction was
John. Jamlson, and the section |
boss, T. A. Champion. These
men were practical road builders
of twenty-five years experience.
The cost of the construction has
been about $4,000 a mile. The
stone used, cost from 10 to %
cents perch. Eighteen to
twenty-five horses and one en-.
glne were used to do the hauling.
The Inspector was Harry Half.
penny, of Harrisburg.
The law under which this road
was built provides that the State
pay three fourths of the expense,
The County, one-elghth, and the
Township, one.eighth. On &C.
count of the County refusing to
pay its share, Bethel township
pays its own share and the Coun.
VS. share, or one.fourth of the
expense, Notwithstanding the
act that Union, Brush Creek,
Belfast, Licking Creek, and 9th.
'r townships find 1t very conve.
llent to use 1t. They are welcome
% use it, for 1t was not their fault
hat they cid not help to pay for
t.
The board of Supervisors of {
Bethel township IN office at the {;
Inc application was made for '
State and County aid, and through
whose efforts much of the sue. !
'ess of the enterprise is due, /
vas composed of W, B, Stlgers, a
PRESIDENT; Frank Ranck, secre. i
ary, and p. Howard Kirk treas.
Irer. Y
The road is a delightful drive Il
vav. It's a constant surprise t
o the farmers to find what i'm G
nense loads they can haul over t