Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1920-10-29
GOOD ROADS
BY E. C. Vincent, C. E.>

BY e. c. Vincent, C. El
There is no taxpayer who objects
Ijudiciously to good roads or that a
reasonable tax if the money be spent
upon the improvement or construc=
tion Of good roads. He wants and
should demand the best of grades,
the most permanent construction
that modern ingenuity can command.
l see in the coming elections that
vast sums of money are to be voted
upon by both Virginia and West Vir-
ginia, also money from the U. S. Gov
eminent will be appropriated pro
rata to each Of the above mentioned
states. -
In April of this year wrote an ar
ticle setting forth the possibilities of
a low grade highway through the
mountains of Virginia and West Vir-
ginia, the contamination of which
could be realized by the combined eff
forts apd interests of the two states,
assuming the cooperation of the
United States Government.
+ Since that article was written l
have had many inquiries from pub
lic-spirited citizens of both states as
to a more definite understanding and
explanation Of the route, of which 1
will now give synopsis.
Starting from the city. of iStaunton
at the terminus of Central avenue
neap the corporate, limit, then by the
maximum grade 1907 feet per mile to
the divide between the. waters of Lew
is Creek and .yPogue's Run. head Of
Deffen baugh's draft. 3 miles from
|Staunton, 8 miles Of 33-foot grade,
crossing Middle River at i point
west of the intersection: iof Jennings
Branch and Middle River; from Mid
die River passing through ,Ghmch-
willie, Jennings Gap, 10 milesaof 80
foot grade to the sumit Of North Mt.
the divide between the waters Of Jen-
nings Branch and Calf Pasture River.
16 miles from Stanton, S. miles Of
100-foot grade to the divide between
Iheadwaters of Calf Pasture River and
the waters of North River; 6 miles
OF i87-foot grade to che summit Of
Shenandoah mountain. Descending
5 miles on 1O0-foot grade to the di-
wide between Shaws Fork and Brnshy
Run, Descending aemiles of SS-foot
grade to Jones divide, above Palo AL
to; 4 miles of 62-foot grade to Doe
Hill, IL miles of 42-foot grade pass
ing Siron's Mills to Samples divide.
Descending 8 miles. of 50-foot grade
to Monterey. 6 miles of 25-foot
grade to Round Knob, descending 5
miles of 90-foot grade 10 South
Branch, miles of SO feet grade pass
ing Crabbottom mills, New Hampden
Heveners scales to Hard Scrabble.
Descending 8 miles of 100-foot grade
J, to Straight Creek. Descending 3 m.
of 81 foot grade to Laurel Fork. 10
miles of 1O0-foot grade to summit
Alleghany mountain. IL miles OF
broken grade to divide west of Osce-
ola. Descending miles of 75-foot
grade to Elk Run. 8 miles of 100
foot grade to the submit Of Middle
mountain. Descending 8 mites y
foa. grade to West Fork Gladly, n.
l09-foot grade to summit Of Shaver's
mountain. Descending 8 miles 37-ft
grade to Cheat River bridge. miles
J of 4O-foot grade to head of Isner's
Run. 5 miles Of 100-foot grade .te
Elkins. 49,.
= SUMMARY
Sc miles from Staunton to Monterey
rs miles If 160-foot grade per milo
43 miles cf less than 100-ft grade pei
mile.
40 miles from Staunton to Elklns
t35 miles of 10o-ft grade per mile
los miles of less than 1OO-ft grade
per mile. 49,.
There were two brides over Sazfoci
in length on the entire route; orr
lover Middle River and one over Cheat
fiver. Considering this route strikes TT :
the general trend of these mountains 'l1i =
at right angles, the, grades are not'oe
ably low and easy.
Continued in mex weeks paper