Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1870-06-02
Great Mills. Nd. i
Msy Is. 1870 I
40 Ioiv ]
Jso. E. caRrksrxR. Eco. Osnty Con-
s,issioner for Sc. Xd-ys Gsnnfr.

u -. =. Y Ahfk2Ikks EH4ss I0UN4 tCD$-
n,iuioner Jor s.. Karys Gsanty.
Dear Sir:-Prss-~d end harr.-spa -
she Baard Of County Camrai~rsoners have
heen. snd ssill are by applications far sp-
rroprisfinns, L Far you have scarcely pa
sienee left 70 read this communication.
This. however. IL no petition for levy
on the County. and shereeare viii. hope,
receive your patient consideration.
The condition Of osr rnblic roads has
been 81 much commented on both by high
officials as well as by private citizens. that
. few hints IN the subject ofroad making
mus. Il weu'd seem be acceptable to the tax
PAYERS ofthe County. and especially to the
Commissioners Of the Tax Court. CT which
yuu are q member. When this subject il
better understood. We will likely hear less
complaining Of the roads, both from the
people and the Court-the resident tax
payers at least.
When the cost Of good road (one tina:
will continue firm and passable ut al sea-
sons and in oil weashersl 10 properly ap-
preciaied, the common sense Of the peo-
pie will satisfy them, that such accommo-
dasiens are beyond our limited means. and
sparse population. It is but a waste Of
time 70 attempt to prove this, but the
ceaseless complaints before referred to
seem to justify su enumeration Of the con-
ditions aud requirements Of . permanent
" good passway.
In the irst place then the roads must
10 graded-the hills cut through and the
valleys filed over. Unless the grades on
our public roads are greatly reduced. they
will wash into gullies and holes .notwith-
standing all the brushwood and poles you
can put upon them.
But the valleys and branch bottoms
cannot be filed over without making a
passway for the rainfall and water-aow
Culverts and bridges are therefore indis-
pcnsable. These may be temporarily
made Of wood. but all experience goes tc
show that this Is the most costly material
in the end. The repairs on q so fee,
wooden bridge is said to have supported
q workman and family for life-a dozen
wooden culverts would probably have been
equally convenient to him.
Having graded the road. and made the
necessary culverts in the bottoms. and the
larger water courses, We have next to pro.
tect the road bed from wear and tear, and
especially from rain and frost, otherwise
il will work into deep ruts and become
miry and impossible in the clayey por'
tions of it. This is done by superstruc.
ture consisting of coating Of some hard
durable material, with an over coating o
gravel or broken fock. In addition t.
this the side bitches must be paved il
many situations. and centre and eros.
drains made in the spripgy and glad,
places. Then oil trees (pines particular
ly) must be elled which can cast shad
over the roadway, or may be blown across
it BY any wind. ,
Such is the cheapest passable road tina
can be relied on for conrenient aud SAT
travel at all times, and it only remains t
cast up the probable cost 20 satisfy tn
public that We cannot afford to build them
Graduation per mile on an average
5000 {. yds. at IS cts, $ 10000
Bridges and Culverts per mile
! (if OF brick or Aone,) 5000
Under coating per v mile sfJ stsispe or s,vuu o
Over coating per mile
| (gravel foot thick,) soo Q
Engineering expenses per mile, $50 o
Total cost per mile, $3.50. o
A gravel road may be made poss bI
for $4,000. 90 less per mile, but expert
ence justi6es me in saying that they ar
not reliable where heavy freights pas
ever them.
Now every citizen has an cqnal right T.
travelling and shipping facilities. Yo,
would not levy upon all for travelling ac
combinations to fep. You would no
entertain the thong ht for a moment
it would be equally unjust to accommo
date one section OF the County aud re
quire another neighborhocd to wait. Ev
cry one has the same right to immediat
advantages from the taxation you impos
on him.
Now. from tho most careful estimate i,
my power. l End $40 miles Of public roa,
in the County. Independently Of some 81
or 40 miles of roads once public but nov
little used and rarely If ever repaired a
the public expense, aud $40 multiplied b,
(say only 5000, gives over S1,l1O. OO(
IA sum far beyond the capacity of th,
County to bear at any one time, or eve,
in half q century:
| know that none Of the grumblers ash
for this enormous appropriation. The,
expec. only that the public roads he KEEP,
in passable order-that is that the hole.
and gallies be 6lled evenly as soon as the,
are formed-that the trees be Gu. out O
the way As soon as they are blown down
and that the log drains, poles aud hrids Q.
Dc replaced rs soon ~ they are washed
away or worn GUS. ,
To CRAFTY the travelling public in thi.
matter, will require considerable force, and
some Legislation.
Every mile Of our public thorouchfares
may be rendered impossible (so the fas,
drivers at least) At any hour. You can
not be held responsible for this unless you
have esntrol over the winds and the
clouds. Let rs zee il you have it in your
power TO make tho necessary repairs, in
ti.ss 10 sars Jehs from a jolt or a somer-
set.
Can you compel any citisen to accep,
Of superviscrship Of enc zoos of the pub
lie roads ? Or can q supervisor compel
any ei,isen to aid in making repairs
Howard County has asked for and OBJ
tanned . Law compelling the appointed