Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1920-11-19
LOCATING HIGHLANDS ROADS
BY Rembert D. McNeer)

the subject OF ROADS De discussed as
benefits for anyone except Highland
people. Our friend from Bath, in
pleading for the good road amend
ment, seemed to assume that High
land needed roads to encourage idle
gadflies to drive high power machines
Though the county. We are to con-
der improving Highland roads SO
Us - enable the Highland people to
get where they want to go, over the
best grade, by the most direct route,
and on roadbeds that are good all the
year. When we have such roads 9TH
CTS are at liberty to use them, but To-
cal needs must be considered in the
building. The Civil Engineer in his
recent article proposes to build a
road from Dan to Beersheba by going
around through the Strait of Gibral-
tar. Such a sheme looks very nice
from an engineering standpoint, but
considered economically is not feast
BILE.
Roads to be improved are to be. de
ltermined by the lines of travel now,
and what may be in the near future.
Every section Of the county should
have a good outlet to the railroad,
and easy travel to the county seat.
The Staunton and Parkersburg turn
pike is the thuroughfare to the rail
road in each direction. 1t is on the
state program for road building, so
we need say no more about it. The
most that we can expect to get
through state help is road across
the county in each cardinal direction.
That is not enough. Every commu-
nifty should have an outlet over a
hard surface road. This means that
all roads, except some by roads which
can be easily avoided, should have a
hard surface. Take the Staunton
land Parkersburg turnpike as CEN
trail line, there should be good roads
leading TO it from both north and
south in each valley it crosses.
The first roads to be improved
Ishould be those that best serve the
largest sections of the county. For
instance, the road from Monterey by
Vanderpool, Mill Gap, by Bulah
church, and down Back Creek should
receive attention. 1t not only serves
a rich section of the county, but is
The natural outlet toward the south.
By this route Covington is only six
miles farther from Monterey than is
IStaunton, with the advantage that
there are no mountains to climb in
Igo1ng to Covington. Covington should
he able to secure the lions share of
the trade of Highland if it sees to it
THAT a good road is built. The road
Iofficials did right in selecting the di-
rection for the improved road at
meadow Dale, Notwithstanding the
Icriticism several weeks ago, by the
Bolar writer. The route from High
land to Allegheny by Hot Springs,
which he advocated, is the worst thai
can be found. There are too many
mountains. I have travelled all the
routes.
Having determined the points to
be connected by improved road, the
most direct route for a low grade
should be chosen. This county, by
relocating, can secure roads, with
very moderate grades everywhere, ex-
cept across the mountains. 1t seems
that in constructing the roads we
have, the builders went out Of their
way to climb as many hills as posi-
BILE. For instances, going over the
end of the mountain in the gap at
IVanderpool, and below II. H. Sey-
bert's on Strait Greek. Through a
great many sections Of the county a
good grade, a direct route, ease of
building, and low cost of upkeep can
be secured by following more closely
the water courses. Wherever part
of the old location and grading can
be used 1t should be. Most of the
new grading can be done with q
scraper. A few more concrete Gull
verts or bridges might be needed. but
their cost will be more than offset by
the saving in grading. Take for eX-
ample the road from the top Of the
divide south of Meadow Dale to E. A.
Wade's. This could be made nearly
Straight, few curves and no short
turns, by keeping down off CT the
hills. One big item Of expense in
improving our roads is that most all
of them must be graded. BY follow
ing the route nature has made the
roads can be relocated much cheaper
than to grade them on their present
location. Several thousand dollars
might have been saved on the new
road at Meadow Dale had the course
of the stream been followed instead
of DOING the heavy srading to get
oyer the hill. The rock foundation
that is put in anyway is sufficient FOR
the lowiand.
In some cases tho land owners
might strepuously object to the road