Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-02-09
THE ROAD QUESTION.
Charles Town, w. Va,

February o, 1922.
Dear Mr.. Snyder have been out
of the county for several months on
highway engineering, but have recently
returned to take up farming and my
permanent home in Jefferson county
On most sides hear dissatisfactlo en-
pressed over the recent choice OF State
roads by the State Road Commission
and various conjectures as TO the route
yet 10 be chosen. have been study
ing the situation and have reached the
conclusion that they do not in all cases
meet the traffic needs in the most prac-
tical manner. IL you will be so good
as to publish my letter shall try to
analyze the traffic needs and conditions
in Jefferson county, in the hope that
the State Road Commission may
change or modify its selection to meet
our traffic needs and that Jefferson
county may be saved large amounts in
building and maintaining roads for
traffic that should rightly be served by
the State roads. 1t has been said that
the one permanent thing about a road
is its location" SO let's get that right
AS it will be several years, as the mon
ey is now becoming available, before
1t can be built, there is no great hurry
in making a choice OF a route
Our State Road Commission, as
know it, is composed of fair-minded,
able men, who are earnestly trying to
give West Virginia the best system of
highways that they can, limited by the
provisions of the law and by the lack
of available funds. When you realize
how very few good roads there are
In West Virginia, and how rough and
mountainous most Of the State is, il is
easy to see what a tremendous task
they have before them. This is made
more expensive and difficult by the fact
that in most of the State there is no
stone suitable for permanent road
building. 1t is safe to state that the
same class of road can be constructed
in Jefferson county for about one-half
the average for the rest of the State.
Ii is practically impossible for them
10 know intimately the traffic require
ments in all localities. | feel sure that
II these problems and conditions
were presented to the State Road
Commission that they would welcome
1t and would consider them in max
ing their decision.
The law provides for Estate sys-
tenn of roads connecting at least the va
rious county seats of the State and with
the leading highways Of other States"
AS Jefferson county only borders one
other county berkeley in West Vir-
gina, the latter provision of the law
becomes the more important, which
might not be the case in some of the
interior counties. From our geogra-
phlcal position our roads have to car
ry heavy, rapidly increasing inter
state traffic. This traffic may be con-
sidered benefit or otherwise. II
keeps us in touch and well adver-
tised with the rest of the country,
brings us service of certain kinds, di,
rectly benefits certain kinds of bust
ness; but imposes burden upon us
TO provide roads for its use. Under
this law Jefferson county is entitled to
State road from Charles Town TO
Martinsburg, also connections to the
virginia roads south of Rippon, the
Maryland State roads at Shepherds-
town and with both States at Harper's
Ferry. There is no question about the
choice Of the road from Harper's Fer
ry % Charles Town and south to the
Virginia line. 1t is the Martinsburp
and Shepherdstown routes that are
open to discussion.
A direct road from Charles Town
10 Martlnsburg, a direct road from
CHARLES Town to Shepherdstown, and a
direct road from Shepherdstown to
Martlnsburg would give us the best
state road system under the law. but
the State Road Commission has shown
disposition not to give us this much
mileage, and perhaps Justly so, when
the rest of the State is considered. A
road from Charles Town to Martins
burg via Leetown would 90 through
prosperous farming region but wourd
only serve heal traffic, and traffic he.
tween the two county seats which is
NOT large and probably never will he
WERNER Will road from Charles Town
10 Martlnsburg via Shepherdstown be
fair 10 that portion Of the county south
OF Shepherdspwn district. The exffa
miieage would be so great that il would
seldom be used in going from Charles
Town to Martinsburg.
AS to local traffic, all roads would M
through prosperous agricultural com.
munities and villages, and there ara
many ready to defend the ADVANTAGES
OF, 'heir routes and communities over
an otners. In measure they are
rient. Each has its advantages and
inc State road would be of great bene-
NJ to them. shall not try to weigh
the advantages of one communitv
with another, but only consider the
routes as they serve the inter-countv
and interstate traffic.
From Charles Town to Martinsbure
ana westward to the rest Of the State
any route is good that doesn't add
100 many miles, grades or railroad
crossings over the direct line. There
Is a certain amount of inter-countv
frame but not much interstate traffic
TOT this road. Interstate traffic a,