Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-05-01

[For the Montgomery County Sentinel
COUNTY ROADS.

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Mr.. EpIToR: The Legislature of Ma
ryland, Just closed, at the instance Of the
State Agricultural and Mechanical AS
ISOLATION, passed law, which, in con-
junction with existing laws, if rightly
executed and put in force, may be made
very beneficial to the people, and of great
advantage to the several counties of the
State.
In effect, it has created and made the
County Commissioners a corporation and
body polite, and, among other duties,
given them plenary powers over the coun-
ty roads. They have, under this law,
authority to lay out new roads, aud to
close, alter and improve old roads, with
power to employ an engineer, appoint
managers and supervisors, and generally
to direct, control and manage the whole
system of locating, altering, improving
and directing the repair and management
of the public roads of the several coun-
ties as in their Judgment shall seem best
for the public good; with authority to
levy upon the taxable property of the
people sufficient sum to meet and cover
the expense of such management and
control of county roads.
1t will be seen that a great RESPONSE
bility is thrown upon the County Com
nlissioners, with ample power and au-
thority to put the law in force. For
good or for evil, its wise or unwise exc
cution will be felt and have to be borne
by the people. That great good and ben
eft to the public will follow from wise
execution of the law do not entertain a
shadow Of doubt, and evil and oppres-
sion from its unwise execution will, in
my Judgment, just as certainly follow.
1t is, therefore, of the first Importance
that all the light possible shall be thrown
upon the subject. To that end your col
umns will doubtless be open to all who
have studied and thought upon so vitality
important question.
1t is scarcely necessary, at this day, to
dwell upon the Importance of good roads
to an agricultural and suburban people.
On their good or bad condition depends
their comfort, character and welfare. -
They arc the true index of the state of
civilization to which community have
advanced. They largely influence the
value Of land, and the cost of transport
ing to market the productions of the soil
depends upon the good or bad condition
of the public roads leading to market
towns Hence they largely influence the
profit and loss account of the farmer, as
well as the value Of land.
These observations are preliminary to
the introduction of the mode or plan by
which public roads in other countries and
in other States have been brought to q
high state Of perfection, and by which
those States and countries, in population,
wealth and the comforts and convenient
ces of life, have outstripped the good old
State Of Maryland.
First, in our good old mother country,
England, whose government is marked
by quick perception, and prompt ac-
ton to adopt and adapt its laws to the
wants, welfare and Improvement Of the
people, the Parishes of the counties are
separately charged with the laying out,
construction preservation and repair of
the public roads.
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it, from her moist climate and soil, and
the excitable character of her people,
Ireland, from recent and most authentic
sources, presents an example worthy Of
imitation. There the Btronies, subdi-
vision of counties, are charged, as in
England, with the construction, prescr-
walton and repair of their public or coun-
ty roads.
And thirdly, coming to our own coun-
try, we arc forced to give to Massachu-
sets whose example has been in this re-
spect followed by several Of the Northern
and Western States, the first place in the
, construction, preservation and repalr Of
her public roads. There. like in Eng
! land and ireland, the 7owns or town
ships, subdivisions of counties, are char
ged with the sane duty.
All these names, parish, barony and
town, answer to our subdivision Of Dis
tricts. Counties being large sub-divis-
ions Of States, appropriately retain func-
tons, such as Assizes. County Courts.
Orphans' Courts, Commissioners of Tax
and Review, and for the election OF men-
bers of Parliament, or in this country,
TO the Legislature the law making pow
err. But in the local matters of free
schools, care Of the poor, (out-pension-
ers, ) and public roads, all old, well set
tied and well governed States and coun-
tries have found by experience that It's
far cheaper and better to bring these
questions as nearly home 10 the people
Immediately interested as possible-and
thus the subdivisions Of Parishes in
England, Baronies in Ireland, and Towns
in Massachusetts, and many of our other
States to which they are RENTED.
To bring the question home TO us here
in Montgomery. / would usk. What par
ticular interest have the people Of Ber-
rvs district in either the free schools,
pensioners or public roads in Medleys
district? and nice uersa In the Board
Of County Commissioners, when either
Of these subjects are brought up for con-
sideration, the Commissioner from Ber-
RVS district. in consequence Of his want
Of information of the local feelings and
wants Of the people of Medley's. will. as
a matter Of course, defer to and depend |
upon the representation and wishes OF the /
Commissioner from that district. And /
in turn, when the same questions come I
up from Berry's district. the Commits
- r~o,. Mnlle-'s will la rocullec- !