Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1912-01-26
COMMUNICATED

are required to contain them, Will De
,welled to greater volume. No doubt
We need all the laws we have and
more; but there is such q thing as
having too many.
Let us look at The Valley Turnpike
Company, which is child OF the Law
and see if the law under which the
was formed, and is now
has not long since become
obsolete in its usefulness, and wheth-
er it is not responsible for an institu-
ton which is un-democratic aud de-
trimental to the public welfare.
About a hundred wears ago the peo-
pie OF the Valley had no facilities OF
any kind for transporting their pro-
ducts to market. No adequate means
existed for communication with the
outside world. The Valley was shut
in by mountains, and the only outlet
was over dirt roads, sometimes impas-
sable. The growth and prosperity OF
the Valley required some highway OF
travel fit for use at all times, Then it
was that the men Of money in tie Val
ley got together, planned to build a
macadam road, and went to the leeis-
lature and were given charter to
form a company to construct such a
road. Further, the state not only
granted the charter, but also contrib
uted three fifths of the stock of the
company. The road was constructed,
and for years was the only highway
of traffic for the people of the Valley
to the city markets. 1t was in the
nature of railroad, only it lacked
engines. Over it passed wagon trains,
and the daily stage coach. The road
facilitated commerce, and being always
open, contributed largely to the
growth of the Valley. 1t was a
through highway, used by all for bust
ness with the outside world.
When the turnpike performed this
function. it was fair and right for
toll to be charged, just as railroad
is entitled to charge fair freight
rate today. Moreover, neither the
State nor the County was in a fnan-
cial position to construct such road
as the turnpike and turn it over to the
public for the free use of all. But
conditions have changed. as we all
know, and the turnpike no longer per-
forms the function that it did when
first constructed. The people of the
Valley use it merely for local travel,
yet they are required to pay toll even
for this.
The question that concerns US all is
this. Have we any longer need for
toll gates? Have we not passed that
stage of civilization which required
them? Are we not in position to
take over the road and manage it
trough our supervisors, and make it
free to all?
1t is we'll to remember that the State
owns three-fifths of the road at pres
ent, vet many years have passed
since the State ever received cent in
dividends on its Investment. if it ever
did at all. Private parties have con-
trolled the road for many years, and
they alone have reaped the financial
benefits arising from the road. Is it
not time TO take this much travelled
highway from the domination of pri-
vate parties, who reap all the profits,
at the expense and Inconvenience of
the public?
Now the situation in regard to the
turnpike is this-the majority of the
stock is owned by the State, and this
interest is valneless, returning abso.
lutely nothing. The conditions which
required a toll road have long since
ceased to exist, and toll road has
become an Anticipated institution,
which other states have abolished,
Or are abolishipg. Yet the turnpike
is still operated by a few private
parties, toll is still collected, and
towns are shut IN by toll gates at both
ends, to the detriment of business, and
TO the inconvenience of the public.
All the proceeds of the road have gone
entirely to the few individuals who
have undertaken to operate and con-
'rol the road. Whether they have
made money is an open question but
at any rate The proceeds of the road
nave never gotten out of their hands.
and the books of the company showed
; considerable cash balance on hand.
When examined last Spring by the
State Corporation Con- mission. I'll
he road does not pay, why do these
gentlemen continue 10 operate it? Vel
10 not believe that these gentlemen
ire so plilanthropic and altruistic as
% give their time to a project that
Ices not pay. They are business men
Auu Act on business principles. Ger
ainly they pay themselves salaries.
But should it be possible that these
gentlemen derive no financial benefit
rom the road, then it is time for the
public to relieve them from this gra-
uitous task and take the road over
md manage it as other roads are
managed. On the other hand if the
Dad does pay, and all that we have
'een able to learn about the road
eads us to be believe that it does.
7hy should these few gentlemen be |
Illowed to make money at the incon-
'enience of the public, and from an |
Institution no longer needed and con-
rary to the spirit of the age? Why |
hould these gentlemen saddle the
'ublic with an antiquated institution
o pay themselves salaries?
The Turnpike Company right at
his time has been authorized to put
Dur more gates in Shenandoah Couu-
Y. WhV Was Shenandoah eyoI