Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-06-23
THE ROAD QUESTION.

over the proposition to designate as
the State road between Charles Town
and NartinSburg the route by the way
~ Leetown, toward Kearneysville,
thence through the pine hills by way of
Piley's ford bridge TO Martinsburg.
Ihis route was kindly selected for US
nv our Berkeley county and Martins
hnrg friends, who appear to have set
neat little trap for Jefferson coun-
~ folks. into which we came mighty
near falling never dreaming that our
neiphbors were anything else than
the puileless and innocent parties that
thew assume to be. Their kindness
was real honey, for they not only pick
sd out a road for us, but offered to go
70 Charleston and work" the State
Road Commission to get ii through.
The mistake was that they tried to
force upon Jefferson county a route
tba, we do not want and that tho
niger in the wood pile showed his
head 10 soon.
II was stated in last weeks Register
that the county courts of Jefferson AMI
Berkeley at meeting in Charles Town
agreed upon the route, and that a
meeting of the two courts, together
with the Morgan court, would be held
in Martinsburg on Friday. The
news was painful to a good many per-
sons in both Jefferson and Berkeley,
who had somehow gotten the idea that
the roads to be constructed under the
new law with the peoples money were
10 be for the greatest good to the great
est number instead of the advancement
of private interests of practical poll
tcians. Shepherdstown got busy at
once. and some forty or fifty men and
women went to Martinsburg TO protest.
against the adoption of the pine hills
route. a meeting of the board of di-
rectors of the Martinsburg Chamber of
Commerce was called, and Jefferson
county men appeared and put before
the board their obpjectionS to the
route named and insisting that the
road run to Martinsburg from Charles
Town BY way of Shepherdstown, using
the established main travelled roads
in Jefferson and Berkeley counties
After considering the matter, the di-
rectors of the Cahmber of Commerce
agreed with this proposition, and
adopted a resolution to this effect.
A meeting was then held in the
courthouse, with the county commits
sioners of Jefferson, Berkeley ans
Morgan present, and with Secretary
Pfau, of the Chamber of Commerce,
presiding Mr.. Pfau seemed to be an
hills route, and disagreed with the ac-
ton Of his directors. President Roberts
Of the Jefferson court, presented the
Official endorsement of the Leet0wn
route by our court, but it was stated
that the commissioners had not under
stood that this action had been taken.
There was considerable discussion
over the subject as to which route
was the most desirable, and the debate
having gotten somewhat personal and
acrimonious, motion to adjourn was
made. 1t was understood that a meet
ing would be held in the near future
to have the sentiment of the people
expressed.
So far as we can gather, there are
comparatively few persons who favor
me LeetOwn route. From Charles
oWn to Leetown and Kearneysville
mere are fairly good roads that are
travelled a great deal. Near Kearneys7
vile, however, the route IS switched
OF through by-road, narrow and hilly
ana with many Objectionable curves.
N PAGES the read is but fourteen feet
M!1V me law requires the right OF
way TO be forty feet. The advocates
VI lIe route admit that a number OF
costly curves would have to be elm
mated In all probability new
o..lge would have to be constructed
over the Opequon creek and new
'ual made on higher ground-a tre4
1IhsNlouSly expensive undertaking
II, nus, who Travelled over this road
rssI r'iay were practically unani-
Mous IN their opinion that it is an
,nPfactlcaI and Objectionable route
.or thc main State road between the
sou''y seats-because of the enormous
soS' OF construction and the com.
"a "'NeIy limited number of persons
""o would be accommodated by it.
~ our opinion, and we believe this
~ ~ 'v me sentiment of the people OF
' ION OF Jefferson county and OF
b l,'E, proportion Of the people OF
- 'NC'o} county and of Martinsburg
,,.L: VIZ natural and reasonable route-that
Eh.'Cn VIII accommodate the needs OF
,m - '"TeeSt number of citizens of the
,,l,. counties as well as the travelling
r"..'e- ,o.,.. Is from Charles Town to Hall
b,-u to Shepherdstown to Martins
SSoiE over the main roads that have
rl FcHular for more than 4 hundred
T''S. -. he State road between Charles
G-;E.HI ana Harper's Ferry is practically
U.,-, ',.S,-1 and work has been started to-
r,, , The Clarke county line. This
.- ,ba connects at Harper's Ferry with
80 N'endid system Of Maryland roads
- .y!lS directly to the county seat
ioaIu IIIVrlck CITY, Md, while southwark il
,g.o 1S 10 Berryville and Winchester
y%.l more county seats, and connects
a. 'le famous Valley turnpike.
u5S AS stated, the road is completed ia