Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-12-07
NEW VOL. 5S--No 49.
ROAD MATTERS.


A party of surveyors under instruc-
tions of the State Road Commission
are making their heaLlucrters in
Shcpherdstown while they are eugaged
IN surveying a route from Kearreys.
vile To Martinsburs for the proposed
state road between Charles Town and
Martinsburg II is sail that the
present survey is TO locate road that
will be south of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad the length OF the whole line.
Like the route surveyed through Jeff
erson county, the proposed route means
almost entirely new construction, bu,
little of the established roads being
utilized. Ii is said that a preliminary
survey indicated that practicable
route can be secured through that sec.
ton The survey, il is said, will fol-
low the line of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad from Kearneysvile to Van
clevesville, thence through the pine
hills to Senator Silver's orchard and on
TO Martinsburg.
The State Road Commission seems
bent on making road that will be as
nearly as possible straight line be-
tween Martinsburg and Charles Town.
and every other consideration will be
sacrificed to this one idea, apparently
With narrow stupidity the commission
ignores the we'll laid out roads already
established, with their solid beds OF
limestone rock; il takes absolutely no
account Of the towns and villages that
have right to be considered in max
ing the road; IL pays no attention to the
centres of population; it utterly ig-
nores the wishes Of the county court
"A 81
ought to be extended to the people; il
gives no heed to local desires or ad-
vantages OF the people who have
right to such advantages.
IL takes no genius to build a road on
n straight line IL there is no regard for
expense or any other consideration, and
there may be instances where such a
road is required. But there is no such
necessity in the case OF the proposed
road between Martinsburg and Charles
Town. The direct communication be-
tween these two cities is so trihing and
unimportant that the commission is ut
terly unjustified in its attitude Of ig,
noring all other questions involved
II is sin and a shame that ID persists
in defying public opinion and public
interests and because OF political in
fuence wastes the State funds in put
ting road where II is not serving the
public needs but caters to individual
advantage.
We hope that the Legislature at its
coming session will take note Of the
policy OF the State Road Commission
and head IL of either by inducing a
! change in the personnel or refusing
to appropriate money to be deliberately
diverted from its proper purposes.
Work on the new Maryland State
road between Shepherdstown and
Sharpsburg is being pushed along Wig
orously this week by the contractors,
large force Of men being employed.
The road has been completed all tho
way from the river bridge to the rail
road crossing, and the balance is
straight work that ought to be soon
finished. II is expected that the road
may be completed and opened for travel
next week IL all goes we'll II is hoped
that this may be the case, for the de-
tour long the canal is rough and
dangerous road. The crossing OF the
new road at the railroad has been
greatly improved, the approaches have
been graded and filed in so as to elm
mate the Objectionable conditions that
formerly existed there. There is re-
gret, however, that the canal company
is making the mistake OF building
one-way bridge across the canal near
the Maryland end Of the river bridge.
The road authorities Of Shepherds
town district are having new con-
crete bridge built over .Ratt'esnake run
at the w. ]. Knott place, southeast Of
town. This has been a pleasant little
ford from time immemoriaI, but when
the stream gets high il causes deal
OF inconvenience. Automobilists do
not like fording places, however, and
the new bridge will be very welcome.
Some changes have been made there in
the way OF Strengthening the road and
improving the grade, and the improve
ment will be appreciated by the trav-
cling public.