Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-10-28
VIII be provided for every farm
throughout the county.

SaHhot conceive how the people OF
Jenerson county can afford to vote
against this change if they wish 70
progress and have through the county
system OF roads they should have
ana which is required for the proper
development of the county. In build.
ing these roads, instead of putting up
dollar Tor dollar as you are now dGinp
you would only have to put up about
one dollar out of every five expended
ana De relieved OF the large annual
maintenance charges. With the great
need Tor good roads there will be such
aeinand made on the county to i'm
prove the Glass A roads that il will
ne Impossible to resist, and therefore il
thiS proposed change is not adopted
lne burden OF raising this large amo unit
OF money VIII fall upon the small tax
able unit of jefferson county. and nor
on the large unit of the State or those
who will enjoy its benefits. The man
in the city, whether clerk, doctor or
lawyer, benefits just as much rs the
man on the farm to which the G roads
lead, for they make cheaper ;ransporta.
ton, better market facilities, fresher
and cheaper produce, and in every way
oeneht the city or town, resident
therefore it is but proper and right
that the cities and towns should pav
their part for this system of high
ways that will mean as much to them
as It does to the rural sections.
Mr. Editor, your people should con.
sider. very seriously the question
whether they wish to build the Glass
roads designated in Jefferson by paw
ing dollar for dollar of ther cost, or do
they wish the State to come in and
contribute about one dollar out of
evry hVe dollars, and nothing from
county taxes for their maintenance.
Under the present plan the county
VIII be required to maintain these
highways in an up-to-date way, hav-
ing to fulfill the requirements specified
not only by the State Highway Depart
ments but by the Road Department of
the United States Government. These
departments contribute aid for tho
construction of these roads, with the
strict understanding that thew be
maintained and kept UP. subject tc
their approval. Therefore YOU ca,
rest assured that the State and gov
ernment authorities will require Jeffer-
son county to raise a sufficient amount
OF money to properly maintain these
roads in the most up date manner.
With traffic increasing from twenty
to fifty per cent annually, YOU can
readily see that the cost of mainten
ance will be increased rather than de-
creased as the years go bv. AT the
present time under the law YOU have
the right to levy a twenty-five cent tax
for Glass A roads. This under the new
plan will be eliminated, as the en-
tire amount will be raised by a gaso-
line tax, increase in motor license
fees or direct property tax. If a di-
rect property tax, not more than twenty
cents will be added TO the tax rate
which will make a saving to the peo-
pie OF Jefferson county of five cents
on their tax rate plus the annual cost
to maintain these highways, amount
ing to not less than thirty-five thou
sand dollars yearly.
AS one, Mr.. Editor, who has had a
small part constructing and maintain
ing a system of State highways, | feel
that | am justified in saying to the
people of my native county that they
VIII be making grave mistake if they
do not vote for this proposed change
OF the constitution. If you cannot
trust the officials of your State and the
members of your Legislature, you are
acknowledging before the world that
you cannot trust yourself, for we
must realize that the officials of the
State of West Virginia and the men,
berS OF the Legislature are our own
neighbors and friends, and therefore
II they are not men Of integrity and
honesty and of the pr Jper caliber, YOU
have neglected your ity towards the
public welfare in not seeing tina; a
higher and better class of men were
elected. There is no personal duty
greater than the duty that we owe to
the public welfare of our country,
State, and county, and therefore we
should see that we do ou. part, and if
we do our part honestly and fearless
ly we will always find we have nothing
to fear. In my contact with men I
have always tried to believ. ami have
found it almost universally So that
my brotherman is just as honest as
! am-and do not believe the people
of West Virginia are of a lower cali
Der than those of other States nor have
they lower sense of public duty.
Therefore, Mr.. Editor, as a native of
Jefferson county | cannot but raise my
voice in protest against such reflec-
tionS cast upon the integrity, ability
and honesty of a people who have to
their credit a list of accomplishments
that are the envy of many. When
such accusations are made we are in
dulging in destructive criticism rath-
er than constructive criticism, and the
man who allows such statements to go
unchallenged is not a good citizen or
worthy to be considered in deciding
such an important question as will
come before the people on November
I'd.
I therefore. trust. Mr.. Editor. tha.
the voters of the good Old county OF
Jefferson, county rich in history and
fertility, located where the sunlight
bathes its hills and wales from the crest
of the Blue Ridge in early morn until
the. golden sun sets behind the AL