Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-04-04

(Caresperieace ofthc Beacoe.)
BahiDore. March 81. 1872.
There seems to be too subjects Of ma
terisl interest to the State. that have bsf-
ID - sisdsn Of our late legislatures
-Haie suals and immtgruSos. These
are matters Of the gravess importance to
the Shte. Good roads are eonesded to
be . great Incentive 10 immigration aud
the agricultural interest Of this Ssass.-
Hov 10 ct good roads seems to Be- asosh-
e. II those rezed questions whisa bils The
visas. and nsaeity Of the wise heads Of
or Ssase. Il sppears the combined
knovledgs Of the Sssse has been unable
to eipiss any road syssem that would be
Of gssersl utility and effect throughout
the Sssts. Messrs. Masoe and Lavrenee. of
this Seate. have written elaborate views
upon shis subject aud submitted them 70
our late egislsture. They are well wor-
O. tsna have 10 do( that
such systems - they recommend would
work we'll in the western section Of this
State. bus am sure il would be incfFec-
tive. in . measure. in the lower Counties.
At meeting. Of few Of the farmers Of
the State. which was held at Raine's Hall,
in this city. on last Thur,day. they adop-
ted = resolution advising "a general road
law for the State" Think it essentially ne
cessary to have some system that will Sc
cure the improvement Of our public roads.
but hos to get it. 10 the troublesome qucs-
ton. The very means that were proposed
at this meeting. that is. to require all malice
above ls years to work two days year
on the public roads. or pay $500 commit
tafion. (sone exemptions Of course. was
in 1870 submitted. by the legislature. to
the people Of St. Mary's County. and was
voted down BY an overwhelming majority.
strcnuous'y opposed the measure. not
from any selfish motive. but upon the
grounds that such Law would work great
injustice among our people. While the
smaller portion Of our people would have
been. under such law. compelled to work
two days in the year upon the roads. or
commute. the greater portion could have
stalked around bidding defiance to the
law. Now. this latter class Of people may
have acquired property in the last few
years. which would bring them within the
purvicw Of the proposed system or law.
II such be the case. think this system
en- admirable one. 4 Law to be effective
should effcc. alike the non-property hol-
der aud the property holder. We want
law .h;t vii! reach all classes r people
white and black-rich and poor
Peacock and ALL" l believe the meet
ing on Thursday resolved itself into a
permanent. organization. and i, is to be
hoped this demonstration. upon the par.
Of the farmers Of the State. will be pro-
ductive Of aE effective road system through
out the State. I consider good roads
very essential to the agricultural prosperi-
~ Of the State. There is no question but
what bad roads greatly depreciate our lands
and deter the land. buyer As we'll as for
cign laborer from settling among U.S.
This is . subject. think, that requires
the serious consideration of our farmers.
and it is to be hoped they will take part
in the next meeting Of this organization.
which, I see. is to be convened by the
President. Col. W. W. w. Bowie, when
ever the committee shall deem il cxpedi-
ent The more important matter. to the
people Of St Mary's. in my estimation. is
the question Of immigration and labor
II I may be so permitted to speak hold
that this is the most n,omensoxs question
for the consideration Of your people. coun-
~ roads or railroads to the contrary not
outstanding. The agricultural interest
should Be. the first at the hearts Of pco-
pie Of . Country. State or County. Suf-
fer the agricultural interest Of State or
County, will being it down to . sin
gle farm in order to be more clearly un-
derseood to wither and perish. and all
il lost. Suppose. Tor instance. the pro-
dssts OF exports Of H's farm arc made
qua.e to pay the imports or expenditures
incident to his farming operations for the
year. and this thing continues for few
years. 10 ID not clear to any mans mind
that he will be involved in IN incxtrica-
bic state Of insolvency! This would be
the case. even With County. State or Coup-
try. I fear the agricultural interest. not
only Of lower Maryland. but throughout
the South. is fasi waning. II is an abso-
lutte fact that the yoang men Of the South
aoek BY hundreds to the cities and
towns Of the North and West. seeking IN
humble living BY ecunter-hopping aud
,nk-slinging. In many instances. I am
told. they leave behind them fertile farms to
70 10 ruin and waste. They declare they
can't york. Well. I don't know that they
ean-juss - The svig ID best. JUS % ahe
tree inclines. The subject Of agriculture