Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1917-01-12
IMPROVEMENTS OUTLINED
FOR VALLEY TURNPIKE.

fOk HALLEI lUNNI me.
Plans for beautifying the right
of way of the Valley Turnpike
and for improving the service in
various ways we're discussed at
an important meeting of theI
board of directors, held at the
Kavanaugh Hotel Wednesday,
Jan. 3. President Harry FL
Byrd, of Winchester, presided.
Reports showed that with one
or two exceptions all bridges
and culverts have been replaced
with permanent structures OF
concrete and steel. Three
bridges-one near Mt. Crawford,
and two near Mt. Jackson--are
nearing completion. Dangerous
points are being widened. and
the company is making every
effort to render the highway as
safe as possible for traffic.
WILL PROVIDE THREE TRACKS.
A policy of providing three
tracks in the roadway, where
ever possible, was adopted-the
center track nine or ten feet
wide to be treated with asphalt,
and a track on either side for
horse traffic.
Present at the meeting were :
E. D. Newman, of Woodstock,
yice-president D. B. Dinges,
of Middletown, Secretary; E. w.
Newman, of New Market, Treas
urer ; L. r. Dettra, Of Stephens
CITY. Superintendent ; Shirley
Carter, of Winchester c. w.
Heater, of Middletown /; 6. r.
Eastman, of Harrisonburg Jo-
seph G. Myers, of Harrisonburg ;
George H. Harrison, Tenth
Legion H. B. Sproul, of Stauu-
ton, and William Crawford, of
Mt. Sidney, directors.
DIRECTORS INTERESTED IN I'M
PRovRMENrs.
At the conclusion of the meet
ing, President Byrd gave out the
following interview to the Har-
r.sonburg News-Record /:
THE officials and directors of
the Valley Turnpike Company
have always been keenly alive to
the Importance of the proper
management of the Valley Turn
pike, as it furnishes the only
main artery of travel to the peo-
pie of the Valley Of Virginia and
because of its importance as a
connecting link between the
North and South.
This responsibility the of6ci-
ais have ever recognized and
earnestly endeavored to dis.
charge.
"The obligations of a turnpike
company are obvious.
WOULD PROTECT TRAVEL.
First and foremost is to pro-
vide roadway of good physical
condition, protecting so far as
possible the safety of the users
thereof.
And. secondly, to exact reas-
anable rates of toll only, imposed
in the least Objectionable man.
ner to the users of the road, es-
pecially those who are required
to make use thereof in the trans
action of their daily affairs.
In what measure the present
management has succeeded in &C
complishing this standard it is
for the people of the Valley of.
Virginia to say.
With one or two minor ex-I
captions, all bridges and culverts
have been replaced with perma-
nent structures of concrete and
steel. Three large steel bridges
over North River near Mount
Crawford, Mill Creek and Shen.
andoah river near Mount Jack
son are just being completed and
will compare favorablv with an,
highway bridges elsewhere.
Dangerous points have been
widened and rendered as safe As
possible. Concrete barriers are
yet to be constructed at several
dangerous places. notably Fishers
Hill.
1.-THE entire road has been inn
proved and rendered smooth and
dustless by the application of
costly bituminous binder.
NO ADVANCE IN TOLL RArEs.
This has been accomplished
entirely from the revenues of the
company without advance of the |
rates of toll. In fact, in several
/ instances. the rates have been
modified and the company has