Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-03-15
The Road Matter.

Editor Register-If Mr.. c. d. Wysong
is responsible for The present condition
OF our roads, then he may take to himself
what said IN my former article and what
| am now TO say. Mr.. WySong knows
that the county court has in the past, and
can therefore now, hire road engineer
or supervisor. He perhaps does not
know, but do, that the present method
OF supervising costs over IS, QUO per year.
This would certainly hire that hgh-prced
engineer. A road supervisor must not
be one of the members OF the county
court Since Mr. Wysong cannot take
pay tor, or actively superInlend The roads,
he does not holo himself directly respon-
sIble for The present condition OF the roads
in this district If he did, since he is Ell
ticient, the roads should be in as good
/ condition as is his orchard.
! When our citizens last spring had
meetings 10 discuss our roads il was then
made plain what is the sentiment OF this
community. We did not then and do not
now like the way our money is being
spent Tor the roads. We then said SO.
| Ii this old method, that had got our roads
in such bad condition, and IS now daily
allowing them to become almost impassa-
BILE, was changed, there IS now no evil
dence OF It.
II is not necessary TO have more money
| TO make our roads better. But II is neceS-
sary that this money be spent with judg-
ment. II is not now so spent. The Een
on the roads are not properly bossed.
They 90 TO work at any old time, in any
old way and at any old place. They ne
elect to open drains. They let the water
run downhillsides Tor months and months.
They leave holes full OF water TO be
splashed and dug out deeper and deeper
by every team and automobile going
through until the place becomes night
mare. A few dollars spent in time on
these places would save hundreds later.
A correspondent in last weeks Register
asked this question: "Why are not cents
used to prevent damage itfakes dollars to
repair ?" would put the same question
in this form: Why is not sense used 10
prevent damage il takes dollars TO repair
The trouble is that working our roads
is nobody's regular and only job. Each
| has his own other Job 10 see 10 flrSt
Hands are not to be had. They are cut
ting corn, sowing wheat or picking ap-
pies. The railroads do not keep their
tracks up in this way. They have crew
for the work. These MN know where
their job is. They work at it. They get
results. Why cannot our roads be work.
ed in like manner They can and they
must, if we expect 10 use them much
| longer.
This road matter is not question OF
personalities. 1t is public matter. 1t
would be very wrong 10 waste energy in
fault finding and throwing mud at indi-
vlduals. The thing to do, is to get busy,
try to pull together and to get results.
And | now ask Mr.. Wysong 10 work
with us and not against us. All are after
the same thin. good roads. We can have
good roads and we will have them. To
get good roads is big job. 1t is a job
needing a man OF experience and knowl-
edge of road making. Ii seems 10 me
thai this should be his only JOB, and he
and his men should be on the roads every
day OF the year. Let us now get such a
man, and then let him alone, and If he
does not get results, fire him and get an
other. But have him understand that so
long as he does get results, his job lasts.
| No change in the county court or any po-
lilical faction can fire him, so long as he
keeps the roads in good order.
TAXPAYER.