Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-01-05
WE LOSE THE STATE ROAD.

AT meeting Of the State Road Com
mission held in its Office III the city pf
Charleston on the 10th day of Dr.
cemeer, 1921, the fol owing order was
passed AMI entered of record:
ordered, that the State routes as or
asre" design lted in accordance with
chapter li2 OF the Acts of 1921 as
such in Jefferson county on August
4th, 1921, be hereby amended to read
as follows:
Beginning at the Virginia line on
the Charles Town-Berryville pike:
thence with same northefly via Char&s
Town, Halltown and Harper's Ferry 10
the Maryla State line.
Beginning at the Berkeley county
line on the State road leading TO MAI
tinsourg thence to KearneysvilIe:
thence on new location, to be de-
fermined es rhine by survey, via Ransom to
Beginning at Kearneysville; thence
via walper's Crossing to Shepherds
town.
The above order, in the opinion of
most Of our people. kills the hope that
ShePherdstown will secure SHie
road in the near future. II means that
the State Road Commission has de-
sided upon what Is known as the Pine
Hills route for the State road connect
ing MartinsburR and Charles Town
10 leaves Martinsburg by South Oucn
street, goes through the pine hills Of
Berkeley county, crosses the Opeoupn
creek at the Riley's ford bridge. and
goes by the l. d. VanMetre dairy farm
to kearneysvilH, presumably to Bar
aane, then across TO wageley's Shop,
thence to Charles Town through RSp-
son.
This route ignores Shepherdstoyn
ana all its interests. II avoids Shenan-
doah Junction, the county's most I'M
portant raj road station; il even leavca
spirited little Leetown far 10 one side.
IL pieases q ewer number Of Der
sons than any other route that mas
oeen mentioned. II accommodates
trifiing number of people as compared
with other roads.
10 ignores the main Travelled hi6h-
ways OF Jefferson county almost entire
~, and utilizes In both Berkeley and
Jenerson counties narrow, winding
roads, hilly and full OF dangerous
curves IN Berkeley and passing through
poor agricultural section. IL takes
no account OF our broad main roads
win their solid beds OF limestone
rock, which could be made into the best
ofate roads at the minimum cost. On
me contrary, II chooses q route which
VIII entail an appalling outlay. II has
oeen said that the bridge over the
opequon creek and its approaches will
cost 100000. Many curves must be
eliminated, hills cut down and hollows
hlled UP IL decent road Is to be con.
strscted. More land must be pur
chased in order to have a road of the
necessary width. There Is airy talk
OF entirely new construction, as N
money Is as plentiful as the dirt that
viii have to be moved.
The announcement Of the decision OF
tne commission was n shock to the peo-
PIE or Shepherdsfown district, a disap-
pointment to Shenandoah Junction and
Knockout TO Leetown. II seemed 10
De the general opinion that the selec-
tion Of this absurd route was due 10
the influence OF former State Senator
Gray Silver. OF Martinsburg and Wash.
ington, VINO Is an extensive owner of
apple orchards that will be enhanced
~ value by building q nice road to
them. Mr.. Silver, however, in a state
menf to prominent resident Of Shep-
herdstown a few days ago, said tl5at
ne was not especially interested as to
which way the road goes and that he
mad done nothing TO influence the COM
MISSION IN the matter. This makes
'he action OF the commission a real
mysfery-for who wapfed the roite
that has been selected?
One of the members OF the COM
mission is quoted as saying that he
intended 10 get as direct a route BE-
tween the two county seats as could be
made.
cniId coud take a map and Law
rule across II and say, Build there"
but who would have any respect for
such lack Of wisdom? What can we
think OF public cff!eiaIs who contemot-
uously ienpre the wishes and the rights
OF the people and take no account of
the peoples money that must be spent
50 extravagsntiy.
The members of the commission said
that they would give this question foil
ana careful consideration, and tiiat
shey would visit this section before
eoming 70 decision, They failed to
DO the latter We fear that tl,ev
neglected the former as we'll
Inc fact 'hn, an order has been
entered to build spur from beyond
kearneysvil'e 10 Shepherdstown should
not arouse undue hopes. II will be
many day before this will come 20
pass. We do not believe that IL is
seriously meant.
We are disappointed in not getting
road by the logical and sensible
route. We are stili more deenIv d;.1
appointed In the road commission. for
until tnis decision we had hoped that
II would have some regard for the