The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-01-08
'Msh< Getil M'snht9
ELKTON, JANUARY s, 1870.
County Roadside. Ill.


A thorough system of roads having been
constructed throughout the county, lead
ing to all the centres of business, and
crossing each other at distances apart reg
ulated by the demands of the neighber-
hood-to accomplish which very desirable
object would require alteration in the To-
cation of some roads, and the opening, per
haps, Of new, or parts OF new roads, which
in many instances would be attended with
less cost than would be required to mend
the old ones, besides gaining better loca-
tions,-the next consideration of impor-
lance would be keeping them in perfect
order. This might be readily done by
selling them out in sections for Il term OF
years-suificiently long to make it an OBJ
.ject for a supervisor to provide the proper
tools to do road work with. The lowest
bidder for the section, or sections as it
might be, would have the reads bid for
awarded to him on his giving the necessary
bond to perform the work. This would
necessitate the employment of road in
spectors in the county, to view and exam
inc the roads once a year-in the Fall
would seem to be the proper time-and
make careful report to the County Com
missioners, and if the contractors had not
performed the work properly, their bonds
would be liable, and in case of appeal from
the decision of the inspectors, let a jury,
summoned from the election District in
which the condemned section was located,
determine the matter, the costs to be col
lected from the party against whom the
Judgment might be rendered. This would
prove wholesome check upon road con-
tractors.
Such system of roads for the county as
we have in these articles foreshadowed,
would be kept in prime order at one fifth
of the cost to the county which is now in
Cured by the miserable system which is
yearly making impossible ravines instead
of roads, in all sections of the county.
Has any farmer ever counted the loss he
yearly sustains by the abominabls roads
of Cecil county, and the actual gain in
dollars and cents in his pocket-yes the
profit he would make out of roads hard and
smooth, with ILLS reduced to easy grades,
what might be justly termed "good
roads, the entire year, Winter, Spring,
Summer and Fall |? Has any one cstima-
ted the cost in, wear and tear of wagons,
carriages and animals alone? Perhaps
scarcely one in hundred has ever thought
of the matter. Thewagons jolted to pieces,
the tires worn off, the animals crippled and
damned, by our abominable stony roads in
the course of one year, must amount to
thousands of dollars if it could be compu-
ted. The speed at which a horse can travel,
and draw much heavier loads ON 4 good
road, as compared with such roads as we
now have, is at least double. Hence by
good roads time is saved, wear and tear of
the wagon is saved the animals are saved,
and double the weight could be transported
on good road, that can be slowly dragged
over our present roads, through mud and
quick-sands, over gulleys, rocks and stones.
Thus we see by good roads every man
who hauls is direct gamer in proportion
to the amount of transporting he is COM
PEELED to do in conducting his business
This Is direct and immediate gain, which
every man can understand. But beyond
this there is Il material advantage not yet
considered, which must inevitably accrue
to every owner of real estate in the county.
And that is the additional value given to
this species of property by improved tho
roughfares, making it accessible to mar
kets. Every farmer knows the advantages
a farm derives from its near proximity to
a railroad depot, and how lands increase in
value which are thus located. The same
natural laws are at work in creating values
where facilities for transportation and
travel are afforded by public carriage or
wagon roads through the county. They
increase the profits of farm by diminish
ing the road expenses above enumerated;
they invite capital, and with it immigra-
ton and greater variety of business
Good reads adorn and beautify country as
cultivation, moral habits and gentsel dress
contribute to the regard and importance of
the population of State. BY system of
"good roads, we use this old fashioned
phrase because it is more expressive of the
sense we wish to convey, than any other
such as has been outlined in these articles,
it is impossible to estimate the increase i'll
the value of real estate that would be pro-
duced in the county in ten years after their
completion.
The suggestions embodied in these arti-
cles on County Roads are offered merely as
suggestions. If others have thought of
something different, let them make public
their views. In a multitude of council
there is said to be wisdom. Every man
who means business is impressed with the
Importance of the subject, and is anxious
that our road difficulty should be surmount-
ed. The new Board of County Commits
sioners are anxious to mend matters if they
have the cooperation of the public. Let
us reason together.
Such roads as we have attempted to pre-
sent, exist in the most wealthy and best
governed States of Europe. They must be
the cheapestin lifelong run, or the governing
powers would not expend money to turn
pike and make them solid and smooth
The monarchs of Europe are hard pressed
for funds to keep up standing armies, and
the royal families in lu1uries, and are not
likely to expend unnecessarily on public
roads. We have never heard of the people
of those countries complaining of extrava-
gance in their rulers in providing the best
roads that can be constructed for their use.
Consult an Immigrant from the British
Isles about the public roads in that coun-
try, and he will tell you that one horse will
draw more on the roads there than two or
three will in this country and NOV. at
double the rate of speed. Of what value
is land without means to reach the market
with produce? and just in proportion to the
improvement in the public roads, will the
increase in the value of real estate be, in
this or any other country.
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