Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1920-12-03
More About Roads
Highland Recorder,

Va.
Dear Editor:
/ wonder if one who is interested
in Highland County but who does not
live there would be permitted to say
about the road situation
in your county. I have just read the
letter written by Mr.. ,McNeer and
think it one of the best have seen
on this important subject.
I said in the beginning that I did
not live in Highland county however
am interested in small piece of
real estate there and while I do not
think this entities me to but in on
matters that belong to your county,
yet as one interested in good roads,
and as one who think is in posi-
ton to know where he speaks, I
am taking this liberty with your kind
permission.
In the first place let me say "That
the Loro helps those who help them
selves" and from the letter from the
Road Department at Richmond pub
lished in your recent issue it does not
seem that you can expect any help
from the State for at least two years.
Now Augusta county has already
built about fifteen miles of good
road, and will in all probability build
about six more miles next summer,
which will give you macadam road
| from West Augusta to Staunton.
This leaves a stretch of road of about
three miles from West Augusta to the
foot of Shenandoah, but the worst
road then will be between Mcdowell
and Monterey, which-in the winter
and in the rainy season of the spring
and summer is almost impossible at
some places.
Now for my suggestion, if I may
be permitted to make it, is this. Get
up private subscription for as much
as possible and then take the toll
collected between these two points
togther with an appropriation from
the county and build a road from
Monterey to Mcdowell, with the
same kind of material used on the
road from Monterey to Vanderpool
which could be gotten right on the
road, and l feel sure that Mr.. Doyle
who purchased John Trimble home
would only be too glad to let the
county get this clay gravel from his
gravel bed to make this road. The
road already has a good grade and
with the proper ditching and drain.
age I believe could be constructed as
above for about one thousand dollars
per mile, as l understand the Wander
pool road did not cost quite this
much. AS to the cost however I an
not familiar, but if it could be done
for anything like the above price il
|
money ever spent by the county anc
would benefit more pople. Then with
the road properly graded and drained
between Headwaters and the foot Of
the Shenandoah, Highland would
have very good road, certainly one
far better than she now has. should
have mentioned that the present road
could be vastly improved by cutting
away the trees close to the road be-
tween Mcdowell and Monterey which
keeps the sunlight out and cause wa
ter to stand in the roadbed.
I am not verp we'll off, in this
world is giving but just to show
the good people of Highland that
love them and that my heart is in the
right place. I will start the ball to
rolling with a two hundred dollars
subscription, payable monthly when
the work is started. And will be one
to solicit subscription from this end
of the line, and feel sure I could get
neat little sum from those who eth
er own land in Highland county or
are interested in the road being built.
/ also feel sure that if Highland
would do this that old Augusta would
be willing to Ak up the road to the
foot of the Shenandoah from West
Augusta. -s--@ "MOSS BACK "