The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-04-06
COUNTY ROADS.

to consult upon the subject of an improve
ment of public roads. A committee ap-
pointed by the meeting prepared the fol-
lowing resolutions:
1. That in the judgement of this conven-
ton the question of highway repair should
carefully be kept from political agitation,
to the end that good roads may be secured.
independent of all political changes what
ever.
g. That change from the present inef-
fectual mode of repairing roads by a money
tax is desirable, and that tax of labor be
substituted therefor, each person to pay
such labor tax in proportion to his pro-
perty.
3. That all male persons over the age OF
1S years be required to work one day on
the public road before the LIST day of June
and one day before the first day OF Octo
Der in each year, excepting operatives IN
factories and residents of corporate towns,
or the person so taxed may commute the
said tax at the rate of one dollar and fifty
cents for each day.
4. That the chair appoint committee OF
seven, with power to enlarge their number
by the appointment of one or more from
each county, to prepare road system lor
called BY the president, at the suggestion
of the said committee.
The above resolutions, with the excep-
ton of the second, were adopted by the
meeting. after having been amended.
The chairman appointed the committee
as follows: D. Lawrence, OF Har1ord
county; DR.. Merryman, VIM. Webster ana
,Jere. Yellott, of Baltimore county; Il. u.
RODGERS. of Hartford, and G. S. keech, OF
Prince Georges.
Mr.. Lawrence, from the committee on
business, made the following additional
report: .,o e,,,ou,;,o
resolution for the discussion of the conven-
ton, in view of the opposition of industrial
classes to convict competition, viz:
as. Rssolred, That the convict labor OF
the State can be more prefitably employed
in the repair of the county roads than IN
any other manner, and the legislature be
and Hereby is requested to secure for the
people law embodyin. the feature pro-
| posed.
Considerable discussion ensued upon
this resolution, and it was finally WITH
drawn by the mover, and referred LOT the
action of the committee appointed to
draft State road law for presentation 10
future meeting of the convention.
Mr.. Lawrence offered the following reso-
luton, which was adopted
| Resolyed, That it is advisable to secure a
! general road law for the State.
OK, motion of Mr.. Sands, Mr.. d. Law
renee was nominated as treasurer of the
convention, and unanimously elected, ana
the meeting then adjourned.
The meeting seemed to be impressed
with the importance Of breaking up the
present intolerable political system OF road
mending, which is SO productive of every
thing but good roads.
The two essentials in road system are
knowledge of the work to be done, coupled
with responsibility; and it seems to us that
it would be an easy matter to frame gen.
eral road law, which would insure these re-
quirements in every INSTANCE. ifarGad law
was framed, giving the County Commission
ers authority to receive proposale for keep
| ing in repair the roads, for specified num-
Der of years, which should not be less than
three years. and a longer term if consider
ed sxpedient, which proposals should
embrace detailed statement of the plan
of construction Or repair and the con-
tractor be required to give sufficient bonds
to repair and keep in good condition the
roads thus contracted for, it does seem to
us that this difficult road problem would be
solved satisfactorily. Such plan would
certainly require much less money after the
roads were once put in order, than our
present yearly expenditure. Our present
system of putting out the roads to farmers
to keep in order invites the results which
are so loudly complained Gf. IN the first
place there is not ONE farmer in twenty
who has ever given the business of road
making thought, and is in consequence
entirely ignorant of the business; i'll the
second place, the farmers are compelled to
| attend their crops at the time that nearly
| all the work should DO dane OIL the roads
in tibet bird place the hands are hired by
the day, and the county is the paymaster,
the supervisor being mere overseer, and
the majority of them care but little what
kind of hands they pick up, and whether
tiey do more than put in time. The Super
visor's tenure af office being short he is
interested in making it pay him as well IS
possible. lie is no way responsible for the
roads being kept in proper order. Hepre-
SCENTS his time book to the County Commits
sioners and swears that he worked so many
hands and teams the number of days stated
in his account.
What kind of hands they were, or wheth-
er they earned their board is a matter OF
indifference to him, though very important
to the tax payers; but subject over which
the Commissioners have no control. With
these three defects in a road system it
must certainly fail. The plan we have
above suggested avoids them by placing
the work in the hands of men who are will
! ing to enter into bonds with the County
| Commissioners to do the work in speci-
fled manner, for certain specified sum,
the work to be inspected as that on all
bridges, and public buildings is by compe-
tent judges before payment.
We venture to say that man skilled in
the business Of road making with gang
of men accustomed to such work, with the
proper tools, will do ten times the work in
permanent value on the roads, that is,
under the present system, done for the
same outlay. Every man knows that a
road once substantially made, needs but a
trifling outlay to keep it in order in future,
and herein would lie the advantage of let
ting the roads to a successful bidder for a
series of years.
BUTTER IN SACKS.
The dairumen of WASHINGTON Territory.