Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1925-01-14
WOULD AVOID HEAVY PULLS
ENCOUNTERED ON Md. STATE
ROAD

NOAD
A project to have established an all
West Virginia east-and-weast state
highway through the Eastern Pan
handle starting at a bridge to be built
across the Potomac River at Paw Paw
thence from Paw Paw to Woodrow
where the present state system would
be met is being urged with vigor in
this section at the present, and the
indications are that the plan may be
successful it is declared. The plan
involves joint action by Maryland and
West Virginia in building the bridge
the estimated cost of which is $780,
600. Maryland has already secured
the enabling act which would provide
her share of the money-$50, 900 it is
stated and the new state highway
which would meet the bridge bed in
Maryland is already under way, its
present terminus being at Oldtown,
Md. Those urging the proposition
In West Virginia are now aiming to
get action at the session of the legis-
iature opening January Ia, before the
further work is done inconstructing
the state highway links in the area
effected; and their particular object
i've is to have the legislature approp-
riate $4,000 as West Virginia's share
of the bridge cost.
Those sponsoring the movement
which has been taken up enthusiastic
ally by people in this section to whom
it has been presented submit num-
Der of arguments for the new road.
First and foremost, they declare it
will eliminate the heavy grades now
encountered by tourists coming from
Maryland via the state highway in
that state to Hagerstown There are
some 12-percent grades on the Mary
land highway, it is stated while the
maximum on the West Virginia road
is seven percent--a grade that can be
accomplished in high gear by any car
The scenery along the West Virginia
road is fully equal to, if not superior
to any encountered along the Mary
land road. As further argument it
is pointed out that in event a proposal
is successful to span the Shenandoah
with a new bridge and create a road
to Washington via Leesburg-a prop
osal which is being urged by Jeffer-
son county people at present there
would be a saving of more than 30
miles on trip from the West to the
East and all on good road.
bridge-the only construction work
necessary on West Virginia's part to
prfovide the new east-west route
would not cost much Cacapon dis
trict in which Paw Paw and the new
link link has within the past year
spent $l50,000 on new roads which
have been turned over as a part of
the state system it is declared and
fXo dfSf,4int tNaonIa n ROMA tbaf II tyo4tId
be only fair for the state fund to pro-
vide $4,000 in return for the bridge
which would open the way for traffic
through the district. The Maryland
end of the bridge would appear at
Kifer, and there is an easy grade for
the bridge it is said From Paw Paw
there is a three-mile stretch of hard
surfaced road-equal TO that maint-
aimed by the state--to Woodrow
where the present state highway sys-
TEN passes From Woodrow the rou-
tie would lead eastward to Berkeley
Springs, thence to Martinsburg via
Hedgesville and from here to Charles
Town and eastward again.
Tourists from the west hitting
Cumberland keep clear of West Virg-
mia under present arrangements 1t is
reminded because there is good road
all the way from there to the East al
though it is all in Maryland. At the
same time it is known that many of
them object so much to the heavy gra-
des on the Maryland highway that
they will turn back from the Mary
land road go north and take the Lin
coin Highway for their eastern trip.
For this reason Cumberland has been
active in urging the bridge at Paw
Paw believing it will be of advantage
to her and to Maryland to keep the
traffic moving along the Potomac.
The bridge would provide a routing
approximately paralleling the present
Maryland highway although in West
Virginia from Paw Paw East The
existence of hard surfaced roads to
the state borders in each case are also
submitted as reason for providing
the only other necessary link--the
bridge-to establish the new road.
Members of the legislature from
the panhandle are outspokenly in fav-
or of the plan and are planning to
work actively for the measure when
the legislature eonvenes. Action at
this time is regarded as imperative
because it is believed that with the
probable appropriation of $50. 600,
! DOC more at this session expenditures
Awill nave gone so far that it will be
next to impossible for the Paw Paw
stTiet eyer to get in successful
m
tate roads in both Maryland and
kinia Rave been built as indicated
e mao to deliver the traffic eth
Maryland or Virginia which lea
e three counties Of the panhan-
{ of the running so far as the
est travel is concerned; the on