The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-01-28
'Ml3he Gttil MIEhi9
ELKTON, JANUARY rs, 1871.
The Roads.

The splendid roads which were made by
the frost king during the first freeze, about
the first of the present month, were suffi-
cient to cause sigh from every person
who is compelled to use the public roads a
great deal, to think of what toll and tribu-
tation will be required next spring to get
through many of the places which were
made smoothe and solid by the action of
frost, and which like bridge bore up
wheels and team, carrying them smoothly
along. Though we cannot expect to have
such firm roads i'll warm as in freezing
weather, yet there is an extensive field for
improvements; and under our present road
system, as bad as it it, and lily adapted to
the purpose for which it was designed, less
money could be made to furnish the public
with better roads 1t has always been the
practice to make supervisors of farmers,
and experience and observation has clearly
established the fact, that as class more
inet1iciet men could not be found. We do
not ignore the fact that there are many
exceptions to this rule, but those who are
competent and Conscientious do not lobby
for the roads, and are seldom appointed.
Those who bore the Commissioners for
appointments as supervisors, are, as rule,
the most unfit persons that could be found.
Their road force-employed when "slack
time - in the farm work can be found, con-
sists principally Of boys and half hands
unaccustomed to the kind of work neces-
sary to he done on roads. And the super
visor with this force, much of it perhaps
hired by the month to labor on the farm,
potter over the roads, the employer know
ing and caring, in a majority of cases, as
little about putting the roads in proper
order, as the hands. The roads having
been walked over and scratched ''here
little and there little" a stiff bill is made
out with full wages charged for hands,
many of whom a contractor to do the work
would not have in his way. The bill has
the necessary affidavit attached, and the
Commissioners are compelled to pay it.
The Commissioners, as bad as the law is
under which they act, are in great meas
ure responsible for the public robbery that
is carried on by supervisors. If they would
cease to appoint those who are found year
after year buttonholing them for the
appointments, and select men whose bust
ness is to do such work, and who, if con-
suited, could tell what it would cost to put
in order, and keep it so, piece OF road:
men who have no farming to look after,
of fho ba
principal part of the work on roads should
be performed and who have the proper
tools and employ hands who are accustomed
to the pick and shovel the mapping ham,
mer and the horse-cart, the county would
not only get three times as much done for
the money it expends, but it would be
executed in .judicious and proper manner.
If practical road makers were sought
and inquired for by the Commissioners,
and none other, where it could be possibly
avoided, employed, in a few years class
of experienced and competent supervi-
sors would be created, which would give
us good roads at a vast saving in the taxes.
There is a chronic plea which doubtless
Poe-Ao"SS poii'iNN,
that farmer ought to have piece of road,
in order to enable him to work out his
taxes. But working them out in the man
ner which we all know is customary, is an
imposition on the whole community. Such
men use up the public funds and give the
public little or no benefit in return. Like
most tricks of small politicians, this is false
in theory and false in practice. In some
sections of the country they appoint doctors,
lawyers, and other professionals, and they
are said to make much better supervisors
than men whose lives are entirely devoted
to delving without much thinking. We
suggest that the Commissioners try some
of our lawyers and doctors Cecil has
quite large supply of this educated mater
ial, who doubtless would make very good
road bosses.