Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-09-06
sheuherdstowu Gets A Paw Deal.

Shepherdsfown Gets A Raw Deal.
The Charles Town Advocate Of Satur-
day last has this to say In regard TO the
proposed new rosds 10 be constructed
with State and Federal aid in Jefferson
county:
when The Jefferson county commits
sloners selected the roads OF the county
for improvement with the State and
federal road funds they designated some
roads that the State road authorities de-
clined to approve. Originally about 81
miles of road was selected for designation
as Class A. Upon pressure from State
Roads Engineer H. A. Downs and Chair
man A. D. Williams of the State Road
Commission about 20 miles were taken
off the Class A list and classified as B
roads.
"The twenty miles thus changed in
classification could not come within the
requirements for Class A roads, accord
ing 10 The view OF the two State officials
above named, and who were here 10
consult with The county commissioners
in the matter. One small section of road
from Summit Point two miles in the d.
rection OF Charles Town was selected for
Class A improvement, while the west end
OF the road from Charles Town 10 the
Clarke county line by FraDkhntown was
rejected for such improvement This
latter piece OF road was selected for Class
A improvement in the original plans OF
the commissioners.
THE big reductions in Class A road
selection occur in the northern part OF
the county. The Halltown and Shep-
herdstown turnpike, as well as the Sandy
Ridge road, together with its extension
from Shenandoah Junction TO the inter
section of the Harper's Ferry pike at
Birkitt's, directly east Of Charles Town,
was rejected. So that the only Class A
road connecting Shepherdstown with the
county seat will be the KearneySville
turnpike and the Leetown road.
About $4,000 will be available for
improvement OF Class A roads this year,
to June 30. 1918. Just what portions OF
these roads will be improved first will be
determined after the State road authorities
have had time TO study the situation"
BY the above it will be seen that Shep-
herdstown, the lsrgesttow in the county
outside OF Charles Town, will have no
Class A road 10 the county seat. When
this road matter was first under consider
alton our commissioner from this district,
Chas. D. Wysong, insisted on including
the Haltown turnpike and the Sandy
Ridge road 10 Charles Town by way OF
Shenandoah Junction in the roads TO be
improved, and il was agreed 10. The
former connects with the system OF Mary
land State roads at Shepherdstown, and
is part OF the National Highway leading
from New York 10 Atlanta. II is the
most important north and south road in
the county. The Sandy Ridge road is
also main highway, leading 10 the
important railroad center, Shenandoah
Junction. Why both OF these roads, so
desirable 10 Shepherdstown district,
should be cut out, is not explained. We
are quite sure that if cannot be on account
OF prejudice on the part OF our county
commissioners, for they agreed to them
in the first place. The only other theory
is that OF stupidity on the part OF the
State Road Commission.
A competent road man OF this district
has frequently expressed his belief that
We would be the worse off for the "as-
sistance" OF the State Road Commission.
II this is a sample of the fairness and
intelligence OF that body we are about
ready 10 agree with him. Shepherds
town is one OF five districts in the county,
ard presumably pays one-fifth of the
taxes. BY this deal il will get seven out
OF seventy-one miles OF improved roads
about four miles OF the Kearneysville
pike and about three miles 10 the Berke-
ley county Iine-or, in other words,
while we pay one-fifth OF the taxes We
will get less than one-tenth OF the i'm
proved roads.
There is much dissatisfaction in this
district over the state OF affairs, and very
properly so. We think that our people
ought to assemble in public meeting and
enter their protest against the injustice.