Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1922-12-05
THE CHARLES TOWN-KEAR.
Observation-Disclosures
ROAD.

As We noted IN our Last issue, the
State Road Commission seems to
have decided to build the Martins
burg Charles Town road over the
route direct by Shenandoah Junction
and is advertising for bids Tor the
construction Oh Jnat route as lar as
tAearneysvllie. " nile the spirit OF
JEFFERSON mas rather leaned towards
the LeeIown route on account OF It's
gong over an old established route,
we can reaaliy see the logic OF the
Commission In selecting the new
iouIe, Wnlcn Is shorter ny two miles,
ana winch the COMMISSION claims
costs less to bulld, lnciuolng right OF
way, DC, ana much less Tor mainLe-
nance. Whilst TINS rouJe is unsat-
l5Iactory to large number or the
people OF the county, 1t Is perfectly
satisfactory 10 many others, ana III
cur opinion the charge that tne
commission Is unduly influenced by
political pull or other influence Is
uncalled Tor. Although they are
pound to make mistakes, anu may be
making one IN this instance, we be-
iieye that they are making an honest
eifort to locate the STATE ROADS as
tnelr best judgment olcJaJes, after
stuoying ali the facts ana local con-
aItlons. Below We OTTER statement
by MIR. 3. 4. Gray, Division Engi-
ueer:
The Commission has never mad
any intention OF putting a secIlon OF
road under contract, without having
previously gone over all possible al
Iernate routes, taking every factor
mat would have any bearing IN the
situation unaer 1uil consideration. II
was necessary, OF course, TO comply
Hlcn the requirements OF the statue,
20 designate a system OF State
routes, ana prepare a map showing
these routes, al or ABOUT the presen,
time. AS you know, many OF these
routes especially In the more sparsely
settled countles-require very care
1ul engineering study before the
route Is finally made, and it was rec
ognIzed that, III many cases, there
would be some deviation from the
route as originally laid out.
In Jene rson county, we have had
survey over two roads, leading
from Charles Town to hearneysvllie
which surveys Will show the route
ia Shenandoah Junction and Bar.
zane, to be almost exactly two miles
shorter than the route by Leetown, a
.lrst cost saving of at least $4,000.
!. and with right-of-way damages ap.
proxlmately the same on either
route. The building of the road
-Aearneysville TO Martinsburg is, OF
course, contingent upon the further
appropriation OF funds by the com
lng Legislature. The first survey on
his road will be from Kearneysville
over the so-called Burke Street
route, with the exception of a relo-
cation, to avoid grade crossings over
the B. q o. A reconnaissance of this
line was made two months ago and
It's feasibility determined"
The proposed new road after leav-
ing the Starry corner ON the Leetown
road about one mile north of Charles
Town runs in an almost straight line
to point about half mile south
west of Shenandoah Junction, and
then in northwesterly direction on
the south side of the b. & o. railroad
to the Observation-Disclosures
pike at Kearneysville, where it stops,
and passes by or through the lands
of Chas. N. Starry, w. H. Wyatt, S.
L. Bradshaw, J. N. linn, Thurmond
Sechrist, Nettie Aglionby, John Ag-
lionby, H. and W. Moore, J. j. Nc
Garry, Milton Burr, Mrs. Hettie
Trussell, H. c. Wilmington, Mrs.
Robert Stewart, T. A. Jones, Mrs.
d. E. Fox, Rockwell Orchard Com
pany, and others.