Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1912-06-14
THE DECISION OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS In THE
JOHNSTON ROAD CASE

u In the decision of the Board O
Supervisors in the John ston roa
case rendered Monday last, the per
pie of the District, stand aghast. The
are naturally aroused, with indigna
ton, at a decision, which is not onl
contrary to common sense. justice
and a judicious expenditure of Stat
funds appropriated for building pub
lie highways, but it is also contrar
to precedent established uy the Boart
in District matters. The people o
Johnston District have a right tt
know, why they have been MADE til
victims of such a rank decision, whicl
has practically nullified all benefit t.
them under the appropri alton of tn,
Stale.
Now what are the facts?
FIRST. They have devided the quot;
allotted the District upon two roads
Instead of one as follows; $1,000 90 il
given to grade the Bushong Hill t.
maks piece of road 500 yards Ions
to the fork of the road, in the face o
the fact, that the State Engineer told
them, that on this route a good road
could not be made.
SECOND. 100000 is given for ex.
penditure on two miles of road be-
ginning just below the toll gate, which
route, is up and down consecutive
i hills throughout the entire distance
except short level in front of Mr.
VIM. Bender's house, and is expen-
sive to build and keep up, on account
of the continuous steep grades, and is
beneficial only to few families. Both
of said roads, were condemned by the
State Engineer, and State Road Com
missioner: because they were so ex-
pensive to build and keep in repair.
The middle road when was turned
down by the Board of Supervisors is
practically level for three fourths of
its length, with only one up grade and
one down grade, each way, and the
grades are not half, what they are on
the Bushong Hill, and are easy
grades, with an elevation the same
as the other two roads, and only one
summit. But for reasons best known,
to the Board of Supervisors, the mid
n 10 rno1 with a
tages, was ignored, and the morey
is TO be spent on the hills of the other
two roads, end when so expended,
will be of but slight benefit to the
great majority OF the people in John
ston District. The people in Powells
Fort, who desire to come to Wood
stock on business, will have to con-
tinue to climb the hills, over the other
two roads, or 90 to Waterlick, which
they threaten to do. We are inform
ed that the Supervisor of Johnston
District did all he could to have the
middle road selected on which to ex-
pendthe entire amount,allotted the dis
trict, which would have been APPROX
ed by an overwhelming majority Of
the people, but that he was overridden
by the other members of the Board,
Notwithstanding the precedent estab-
lished, that the judgment of the Super
visor from each District should be
respected in the expenditure of publ ic
funds in his district. This seems to
be the first time that rule has been
violated. And we ask why was it
done and what is the record? In one
district a bridge is built across the
River, not in the inter-
est of a majority of the people, but in
the interest of the member of the
Board and about half dozen other
persons. In the other districts we
behold, about the same thing, the re-
spective Supervisors locating roads,
and bridges, whether for personal, or
political reasons, according to their
sweet will. Yet IN Johnston District
the judgment of the member of the
Board from this district, which repre-
sented a majority of the petitioners is
ignored, and the money allowed to
the District is divided on two roads,
to build 500 yards on one and to APP
ply to two miles on the other road: the
500 yards, being practically worth
less to anyone, and all who use the
two mile stretch, will be compelled to
pay tribute into the Golfers of the
Valley Turnpike Company. What
are the reasons for this outra geous
decision? Are there not many that
should never enter into a question of
this kind? such as personal obl;ga-
tions relationship. and the political
ambition of some members of the
Board who aspire to political prefer
ment in broader field? If so they
have made a great mistake, and the
sooner they rectify it the better. The
people cannot be Hoodwinked.
A CITIZEN OF JOHNSTON DISTRICT.