Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-08-17
Good Roads Meeting.


A well-attended meeting in the interest
of good roads was held in Shepherdstown
last Saturday afternoon, when a con-
siderable number ofrepresentative farmers
and town men assembled to discuss this
important question. The meeting was
presided over by c. ID. Wysong, county
commissioner for Shepherdstown district.
The several propositions looking to road
betterment were discussed at length.
The suggestion that the district issue
bonds to the amount OF $50, 900 to SIS, 900
was made, but this did not find favor.
Edwin S. Jarrett, of Wild Goose Farm, a
distinguished engineer and man ofbroad
experience in public work of this sort,
opposed the bond issue, showing the
bitter experience in other States where
costly roads have been put down, neces-
stating heavy burdens upon the people
for maintenance and interest charges,
with eventual wearing away OF the high
ways but no disintegration OF the debt.
Mr.. Jarrett gave if as his opinion that in
our community the thing to work for is
good macadamized roads, TO be improved
gradually and maintained by methods
within our means.
The father Of good roads in this district,
J. M. Hendricks, expressed himself en-
phatically as being against bond issue,
which may give us fancy roads for short
time at heavy cost, and said they were
not necessary. Mr.. Hendricks stated that
under proper management with slight
increase in the levy our roads can be put
in their former good condition and so
maintained and improved besides. Other
persons spoke against bond issue, and
it was apparent that this would not find
favor.
The matter OF asking the County Court
for authority TO vote on increasing the
levy from Is cents 10 As cents was pre-
scented, but this was voted down. A mo-
ton was then offered by H. L. Snyder
that committee OF five be appointed to
consider a plan Tor road improvement
and report at a meeting to be held on
Saturday OF this week. This was car
ried with but one dissenting vote, and
Chairman Wysong appointed as this COM
mittee H. L. Snyder, J. D. Muldoon, H.
c. Marshall, DR.. S. T. Knott and E. H.
Reinhart. The committee has held sew
eral meetings, and will be ready to pre-
sent report and recommendations at the
meeting to be held on Saturday. The
members of the committee have been in
consultation with men OF experience in
matters OF this sort, and il is the consensus
OF opinion that conservative action should
be taken. The desire for good roads
seems to be unanimous, but ii is believed
that it will be the part OF wisdom to attain
this end by continuing programme In
stead OF seeking TO attain it Immediately
at enormous cost.
Ii was agreed by those who discussed
the matter that the principal, and, indeed,
practically the only trouble OF our roads
was that drainage and ditching have been
entirely neglected. The water pouring
over the road bed has washed gullies upon
the hill sides and that which stands on
the level places with no ditch TO lead il
off has caused the mud holes. II is be-
lieved that if proper attention is given to
ditching and draining that the roads can
be restored at comparatively small ex-
pense and maintained thereafter with the
present levy or very slight increase.