The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-25
;M1yke Geett M5alIhi9
ELkTON. DECEMBER rs. 1869.
County Roads.


The subject of our county roads become
daily of more Importance, and is attracting
the attention of every man who is compelled
to use the roads in the transaction of his
business; and that number may be safely
set down at eleven out of every twelve.
We do not know what authority exactly
the County Commissioners are vested with
by law, over the system of public roads,
and without very large discretionary pow
Ell to act i'll bringing about a reform which
every one wishes for, our road difficulties
seems hopeless.
The nature of this complained-of evil is
but to provide a remedy is the rub. The
reads, by ignorant and careless supervision
for series Of years, have become so ''bad'
as it is ter,ned-or so much the reverse
in form and grade, of what they should be,
that all seem to shrink from the apparent
cost necessary to put them in proper order.
The cost would be considerable, but not
nearly so much if the proper engineering
skill were employed to manage and direct
the work.
County roads, turnpikes and railroads,
are all subject to the same natural laws
No company could stand the cost of a half
built and equipped railroad or turnpike
The heavy cost of keeping them in a barely
passible condition would be very great; for
every half-built road, like 4 piece of ma
chiAery, costs more to keep it even in tolera-
BILE repair, than it would to keep it in first
rate order, if thoroughly constructed. While
the expense for keeping up would be double
on badly built railroad or turnpike, the
freights and travel would be corresponding
ly light, and like candle lighted at both
ends, the capital Of the companies would
marked. our county roads are subject to
the same natural laws as those other roads.
They are bad and growing yearly worse,
requiring more money to keep them in a
condition which is even passible.
l. But the main question is. What can he
done to remedy this evil? The evil can be
entirely cured, and it will have to be &C
icomplisled by the public authorities if
done at all. in precisely the same manner
that an enterprising and intelligent indi-
vidual Or company would proceed, and a
revenue expected to be derived from them.
A competent corps OF engineers would be
employed to survey and lay ont in sections,
with infinitely specified plan for mending
or rather making each section, naming
the material to be used in the work All
roads which were found of not sufficient
public benefit to be kept open, let them be
closed, OF if Individuals wished to use them,
let the keeping in order of all such private
concerns be at the expense of those who
desired the convenience. Let the main
thoroughfares through the county be laid
out as public roads, which should be con-
venient to all persons. This being done,
we have starting point for the business
Next advertise for proposals with specif-
cations for each section to be handed into
the County Commissioners. The lowest
bidders would of course get the contracts
The contractors would be required to give
bond for the faithful performance of the
work, and competent commission, COM
posed of men who were educated in that
branch of business, would have to examine
and report the work properly done before
the contractors bill should be passed.
This plan it will be seen, entirely upsets
the mending of county roads at the election
polls. Our roads have been mended at
these places for more years than we can re-
member. The wants Of the community
demand better roads than politicians can
make, be they ever SO small-and the road
mending politician is about the smallest of
his species.