Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-07-25
A New Route to Highland
[From Clifton Forge Review)

~
n The program mapped out for the
building of roads in Virginia is an
extensive one and calls for, the ex-
penditure of a large sum of money.
Naturally some people are going to-
oppose a heavy tax for road pur-
pses, but it might as well be under
stood now as later that roads can
not be constructed and maintained
without spending millions of dollors
in the State. Too many people are
prone to criticise, the highways in
the Commonwealth, but the very
minute a levy is made to overcome
the criticisms these same people
then, kick about high taxes. AS we
understand it, the automobiles and
the owners of the nearly one hun
dred thousand machines and trucks
in the state are going to pay more
than their share towards securing
system of good roads in all parts of
the State. We are glad to learn
that the plan includes the Lexington
Longdale-C Clifton Forge road, for it
means that work will begin on it
in the very near future. A part of
this road is now being built under
contract and when the entire distane
is covered trip to Lexington from
this city will be small undertaking
despite the mountain that separate
the two communities. IF
+, While on the subject of good roads
we do not think it out of place for
the people of Clifton Forge and the
counties of Bath and Highland to
1--WE some thought to new high
way from Mcdowell to Clifton Forge
ny way of the Wilson Creek route.
We understand that this will short
IN the distance some ten or more
!, miles and that the trip can be made
without any unusually heavy grades.
4 1t will be recalled that well known
promoter several years ago had a sur
vey made for railroad from Clifton
Forge to Keyser, w. Va, by way of
Monterey and that he decided that
good grade could be secured. AS
this railroad project has been aban-
doned and autos and auto trucks
lave filled in the gap, it seems to
is this route ought to be investigated
One merchant in this city has said
that he is willing to bear a goodly
part of the expense to have an expert
engineer make the survey. He esti-
mates that if this road is built that
a great deal of the trade from High
land county would come to this city,
that Clifton Forge would become
the shipping point for the fine cattle
raised in that county. The Review
has mentioned this matter in the
hope that it will be taken up and
''threshed out" as Frank Wheeler
would say. Certainly it will do no
harm to figure on the cost of the sur
vey, once it is determined that the
new route is feasible. The crying
need of this city is to reach out for
new trade and there is no better
place to secure it than in the rich
and prosperous counties we have
named. The people of Highland
county either drive to points in West
Virginia or to Staunton to do their
trading, whereas they could be in
duced to come here with but little ex
pense. From Monterey to Staunton
the distance is 46&miles with four
mountains to cross, At least two Of
these could be eliminated if our sug-
gestion receives favorable considera-
/ ton. We invite the attention of all
interested parties to this project and
hope some day to be able tosee it a
living reality.