The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-01-04
THE ROADS.

THE ROADS.
Twice a year we ought to enjoy good
roads. In the middle of winter when
everything holding dampness and exposed
to the frost is hard frozen; and in the
midst of long drought when the surface
of the ground is parched dry and hard by
evaporation. Then it would seem that the
roads should be universally fine for travel.
But even this small recompeuse for vast
outlay is not to be enjoyed by the tax-pay
ers who keep up our Maryland roads. 1t is
when the surface becomes dry and hard
that the small stones which are scattered
over the road beds, are placed in the most
favorable condition for rolling under the
horses feet and crunching under the wheels
of vehicles. In place of the loose and sur
face stones being carefully removed from
the roads by the supervisors, those which
lind their way into the side bitches through
the season are shoveled back into the mid
die Of the roads with the fine dirt and sand
which is removed from the ditches-in
place of carting both away-and after
few showers the light soil is washed from
the road back into the bitches or swept
clear away into the neighboring creeks,
and the stones, worn round by the feet of
horses and wagon wheels, are left bare
to be tumbled about the road by every pas
sing team. We once, knew distressed
supervisor, who was unable to find hands
it being a busy season-to work on the
section of road which had been placed
under his supervision, and he applied to
an old farmer for advice in his difficulty.
The farmer told him to take his cart and
oxen and boy which he had in his en-
ploy, and go over the road and pick off all
the loose stones. The supervisor did SO,
and made better road than he had ever
before succeeded in furnishing with gang
of hands, with plows, picks and shovels.
Had he been furnished with full force to
pillow up and shovel loose dirt and stones
into the road he would doubtless have sue.
ceeded in doing what nine i'll every ten of
the supervisors accomplish; making the
road rough and uncomfortable to travel.
besides spending good deal of the public
money. We have insisted for many years
through Tie Wig that gravel is the cheap
est and best material that we have for
making roads in almost every section OF
this county. Several of the supervisors
seem to have become convinced of this
j
extent on several roads, and wherever it is
applied in sufficient quantities it never
fails to make a dry, solid, smooth road,
that defies the action of rain and frost: and
needs but comparatively slight repairs in
future; while the mud roads are literally
mud holes in wet weather and dust banks
in dry weather and fearful rutty thorough
fares in the winter.
But our road system has out lived its
time and needs thorough reconstruction.
1t is deplorable to have fifty thousand dol
lars more or less annually wasted in q
great measure, under pretense of keeping
the roads in proper order; but to spend the
money and have nothing for it than the
roads we are compelled to travel on, is
monstrous abuse and nuisance, which
should be abated. We can never have
good roads till the work is directed by
competent engineers, and contractors are
placed under obligations to do the work
according to a specified plan and for a
stipulated sum. We could then form an
estimate of the outlay, and conclude with
= reasonable certainty on having good
roads.
There are many roads in the county
which should be shut up. or the appropria-
tons that are yearly wasted on them be
withheld, which would effect consdera-
bic saving. This wonld be natural con-
sequence OF a thorough revision of our road
laws.
We have not been able to learn what
progress the Road Convention made at its
recent meeting in Baltimore, but hope that
Il plan embracing, as its main features the
above suggestions was agreed upon, and
that it will he submitted in a bill to the
next Legislature. y system of really good
iOt''S iiou1 tii' Soiuoiy -iotiDo "uiCH
would be pleasant to travel and haul on at
all seasons Of the year, would add fifty per
cent in a short time to the value of real
estate. The road question is one Of vital
interest to every land holder.
e; This week s installment of our SER
ial story Marguerite - did not reach us
in time to get into print, having been like
the cars, snow-bound. 1t will be continued
next week.
q" The King of the Sandy witch Islands
&c orJ &c hot .